A77355:559
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.
Well, Quest. 2 But how may it appear, that Christs mercy is most at work, when his people are most assaulted by Satan? Christ deals by His, Answ. as God the Father did deal by Him. Now ye shall find, that Gods love was never more towards Christ, than when Christ was under temptation. When Christ came to die, Satan was very busy; it's called, The hour of darkness: so busy was Satan with all his malice against him; yet then was the Fathers love towards Christ, then especially; for says Christ, Therefore does the Father love me, because I lay down my life. If the Father did therefore love him, because he laid down his life, then his love ⟨p. 293⟩was most at work towards Christ when this hour of darkness was. And so I say, when you hour of darkness is, the hour of temptation; Christs love is then most at work because he deals by His, as the Father did deal by Him.
Well, Quest. 2 But how may it appear, that Christs mercy is most at work, when his people are most assaulted by Satan? Christ deals by His, Answ. as God the Father did deal by Him. Now ye shall find, that Gods love was never more towards Christ, than when Christ was under temptation. When Christ came to die, Satan was very busie; it's called, The hour of darkness: so busie was Satan with all his malice against him; yet then was the Fathers love towards Christ, then especially; for saies Christ, Therefore does the Father love me, because I lay down my life. If the Father did therefore love him, because he laid down his life, then his love ⟨p. 293⟩was most at work towards Christ when this hour of darkness was. And so I say, when you hour of darknese is, the hour of temptation; Christs love is then most at work because he deals by His, as the Father did deal by Him.
The truth is, Christs dealing with his Disciples, was a pattern and plot-form of his dealing with all his people, to the end of the world. Now ye shall observe, that Christs love was never more let out towards his Disciples, than from this time, after he had said these words, Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat. After this time they were all offended because of Christ, and they all forsook him: Peter denied him; some doubted whether he were the Messiah or no: and another would not believe his Resurrection; & as sheep, they were all scattered, and shattered; great was their temptations: yet from this time, do but observe the love of Christ towards them: after this speech, then Christ preaches a most excellent, and sweet Sermon to them, in the 14, 15, and 16. chapters of John. Then he takes water and a towel, and washes and wipes his Disciples feet. Then he appoints the Lords Supper. Then he spends a whole chapter (the 17. of John) in prayer for them, makes a most excellent, and sweet prayer for them. Then he calls them his friends: Ye are no longer my servants, but my friends: Yea, his Children: Yea, his Little children. Never was his love more drawn out, or expressed towards them, than after this time. And (I say) this was a pattern, and a plot-form of his dealing with all his people unto the end of the world. And therefore, though Christ do suffer his own people to be tempted, yet his love and mercy is never more at work than when they are most assaulted by Satan.