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

Fifthly, Above all things take the shield of faith. §5Whom resist steadfast in the faith, Simon, Simon (says our Saviour) Satan hath desired to have you, that he may winnow you: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: that must do it. That same woman that came to Christ for her daughter, she met with great temptations: There was the temptation of her calamity; her daughter possest: There was a temptation of Christs not answering, but delaying his answer. There was a temptation of Christs seeming denial; I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel: There was a temptation of her own unworthiness; 'Tis not lawful to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs: yet notwithstanding she believes, Oh! says our Saviour, Woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And so I say, though ⟨p. 116⟩your temptations be twisted one within another, and one stands at the end of another; do but get the prospect of faith, and you will be able to look over all. When temptation therefore arises, say, Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I trust in thee: And Satan, though thou slayest me, I will keep to Jesus Christ. It was the speech of Taulerus, one that Luther prizeth above all: Says he, Though the Mariners may make use of their Oars in the time of calm, yet when a storm comes down, the Mariners leave all and fly to their Anchor. So, though at other times we may make use of Resolutions, and Vows, and the like; yet when the storm of temptation comes down, nothing then, but fly to the anchor of faith, nothing then like to casting of anchor into the Veil. And as if the holy Ghost, put all on this, he calls Faith our Anchor; and he calls Faith our Shield: All dangers are either Sea-dangers, or Land dangers: if your dangers be Sea-dangers, Faith is your Anchor; and if your dangers be Land dangers, Faith is your Shield. And therefore I say, when temptation arises, labour then to exercise your faith, and say, Oh! how should I do this thing, and sin against my Christ, and sin against my God? Satan, thou tellest me, All this I will give thee, if I will do this thing: I but, how shall I do this, and sin against Jesus Christ who hath loved me, and given himself for 'me? Satan, thou tellest me, that if I do yield, God is merciful, and God will pardon me: Yea, but Satan, God hath pardoned me already, and therefore I will not yield;

Fifthly, Above all things take the shield of faith.