A77355:299
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mystery of the saints comfort and holiness, opened and applied from Christs priestly office. II. Satan's power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulness required in every condition.The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mysterie of the saints comfort and holinesse, opened and applyed from Christs priestly office. II. Satans power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulnesse required in every condition.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Yea, God doth not only suffer this: but at that very time, when the Saints have had most of God, then they have suffered by the hand of temptation. when Paul had been taken up into the third Heaven, then a messenger, Satan was sent to buffet him. And when Jesus Christ had heard the voice, This is ⟨p. 104⟩my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: Then (says the text in the 4. of Matthew 1.) was he led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil. And so with the Saints now: when they have been, as it were, in the third Heaven with God, when they have had most of him, when they have heard the Lord saying, This is my beloved child; after special manifestations of his love, then most tempted: Oh! who would be secure, after manifestations of Gods love?
Yea, God doth not only suffer this: but at that very time, when the Saints have had most of God, then they have suffered by the hand of temptation. when Paul had been taken up into the third Heaven, then a messenger, Satan was sent to buffet him. And when Jesus Christ had heard the voice, This is ⟨p. 104⟩my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: Then (saies the text in the 4. of Matthew 1.) was he led by the spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil. And so with the Saints now: when they have been, as it were, in the third Heaven with God, when they have had most of him, when they have heard the Lord saying, This is my beloved child; after special manifestations of his love, then most tempted: Oh! who would be secure, after manifestations of Gods love?
Further, God doth not only suffer it thus far: but sometimes he suffers his children to be so far tempted, as they seem to have the worser, Satan the better; Satan taking the wall of them, the upper hand, In the 3. of Zechariah, it is said concerning Joshua: That Satan stood at his right hand: Satan took the wall of him, took the upper hand of him.