The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge

There is indeed, something of a suffering, a malignant quality, an affliction in every temptation when it takes least: and therefore, look how you would walk under an affliction, so walk under your temptation. In your affliction, you will walk Humbly: so under your temptation do. In your affliction, you will examine the Cause, especially if your affliction lie long upon you: So in your temptation do. In your affliction, you will seek God Early: So in the morning of your temptation do. In the day of your affliction, you will Engage to God; the day of affliction, is the day of engaging, and you say, Oh! if the Lord will deliver me, through his grace I will do so and so: So in your temptation do. In your affliction, you will take heed of those sins that you are most apt unto in the time of affliction: so do in the time of your temptation: For example thus: in affliction, a man is very apt to be discouraged, to have his heart sink and to die within him: So in temptation, take heed of that. In affliction, a man is apt so to mind his present burden, as to forget all his former mercy: so in the time of temptation take heed of that. In the time of affliction, a man is very apt to be froward, and impatient, to break out into frowardness, and impatience though he did not so before: As the wood that is laid upon the fire, sends forth filth which you did not see in the wood before it came upon the fire: So men are apt to send ⟨p. 112⟩forth filth, and much frowardness and impatience in the time of affliction, when you took them for good natured people before, and thought there was no such frowardness in them, and no such impatience: So in the time of temptation also take heed of that. In the time of affliction, men are apt to make an evil construction, and interpretation of things: Affliction raises Passion, and Passion puts other colours upon things than formerly; and so in time of temptation, we are apt to make strange constructions of Gods dealings, and Christ's dealings with us: take heed of that. In time of affliction, men are apt to change their behaviour; David did so, he let fall his spittle upon his beard, and feigned himself mad; he changed his behaviour: and so are men apt to change their behaviour in times of temptation: take heed of that. In time of affliction, men are apt to stint, and limit God, and say, Can God provide a table now? and can God deliver now?

There is indeed, something of a suffering, a malignant quality, an affliction in every temptation when it takes least: and therfore, look how you would walk under an affliction, so walk under your temptation. In your affliction, you will walk Humbly: so under your temptation do. In your affliction, you will examine the Cause, especially if your affliction lie long upon you: So in your temptation do. In your affliction, you will seek God Early: So in the morning of your temptation do. In the day of your affliction, you will Engage to God; the day of affliction, is the day of engaging, and you say, Oh! if the Lord will deliver me, through his grace I will do so and so: So in your temptation do. In your affliction, you will take heed of those sins that you are most apt unto in the time of affliction: so do in the time of your temptation: For example thus: in affliction, a man is very apt to be discouraged, to have his heart sink and to die within him: So in temptation, take heed of that. In affliction, a man is apt so to mind his present burden, as to forgit all his former mercy: so in the time of temptation take heed of that. In the time of affliction, a man is very apt to be froward, and impatient, to break out into frowardness, and impatiency though he did not so before: As the wood that is laid upon the fire, sends forth filth which you did not see in the wood before it came upon the fire: So men are apt to send