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

But suppose there seem to be no obedience, neither in your own, nor another's eye; yet the root of the matter may be in you. Ye know how it is with the fish, that are in the water, in a windy and a stormy day: ye put many fish into a pond; and in a fair, sun shiny day, ye see them playing upon the water, upon the uppermost part of the water; but in a rainy, and stormy day, ye see none of them there, but yet you say, they are all there, they are in the water, they are at the bottom, though you see them not. And so, it may be, in this stormy time of temptation, your obedience, and profiting is not seen, but it may be there as heretofore. Satan does never more press a child of God, to try himself by signs of grace drawn from his own conversation, than in the time of temptation. There is indeed a good use of signs drawn from our own conversation, but this is agreed upon by all, That there's no use of them in the time of temptation. And therefore says Luther: In the time of temptation, I am as if there were no Law, nor no works, but only the righteousness of Christ in the world, and so I do rest up him. Does Satan come forth therefore with this temptation, That you have no obedience, that you don't profit, that you are Unfruitful? Answer it thus: True Satan, I confess I am very Unprofitable, and therefore I will learn to ⟨p. 277⟩profit more; I confess I am very unfruitful, and therefore I will labour to be more fruitful: But (Satan) I will not now at this time determine about my Condition; for it may be a time of temptation: hereafter, at another time, I will come and determine about my Condition, and I will look after signs; but now at this time, it may be a time of temptation, and therefore I will forbear to wind, and draw up a conclusion, but lean my self upon God, and rest upon God at this time.

But suppose there seem to be no obedience, neither in your own, nor anothers eye; yet the root of the matter may be in you. Ye know how it is with the fish, that are in the water, in a windy and a stormy day: ye put many fish into a pond; and in a faire, sun shiney day, ye see them playing upon the water, upon the uppermost part of the water; but in a rainy, and stormy day, ye see none of them there, but yet you say, they are all there, they are in the water, they are at the bottome, though you see them not. And so, it may be, in this stormy time of temptation, your obedience, and profiting is not seen, but it may be there as heretofore. Satan does never more presse a child of God, to try himself by signs of grace drawn from his own conversation, than in the time of temptation. There is indeed a good use of signs drawn from our own conversation, but this is agreed upon by all, That there's no use of them in the time of temptation. And therefore saies Luther: In the time of temptation, I am as if there were no Law, nor no works, but only the righteousness of Christ in the world, and so I do rest uphim. Does Satan come forth therefore with this temptation, That you have no obedience, that you don't profit, that you are Unfruitful? Answer it thus: True Satan, I confesse I am very Unprofitable, and therefore I will learn to