A77355:583
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.
You will say, Indeed it is matter of great comfort: Quest. but is there no Duty that this Truth calls for at our hands? Here is much comfort, but what is that Duty that this Truth calls for?
You will say, Indeed it is matter of great comfort: Quest. but is there no Duty that this Truth cals for at our hands? Here is much comfort, but what is that Duty that this Truth cals for?
Much every way. If I be an Ungodly man; Answ. what a mighty encouragement is here for to get into Jesus Christ, that I may be in the number of the true Disciples. So long as a man is out of Christ, not a true Disciple of Jesus Christ; Satan may come and tempt, and do what he will with him, and no Christ by to help. Satan could not hurt, or touch, or tempt Job, but he must ask leave: But Satan went to the Sabeans, and brought in them upon Jobs Estate, and he did not ask leave for that, they were in his power: He ruleth in the children of disobedience. Daniel was in the Lyons-den, and they devoured him not, their mouths were stopped, and they could not hurt him: But when the Enemies were thrown into the Lyons, they cracked, and crushed their bones before they came to the ground. If a godly man, one that is a true Disciple of Jesus Christ, if he be in a den with these Lyons, Devils, their mouths shall be stopped, they shall not swallow him. But oh! for wicked men, that are not in Christ, these Lyons, they crush their bones, every day they crush their bones: and a wicked man may say as Saul did, The Philistines are upon me, and God is departed from me: ⟨p. 302⟩So a wicked man, that is not in Christ, he may cry out and say, Oh! temptations are upon me, and Christ is departed from me, I have none of Christ to help me: as for the Saints, and those that are true Disciples of Jesus Christ, they have Christ at hand, though they fall, Christ is by for to help them up. And Christ himself measures out all their temptations, and Christ assists them, and helps them, but Oh! as for me, I am all alone in my temptations, I poor soul, am all alone in my temptations: Ah! who would be a Drunkard still? who would be a Swearer still? who would be an Unclean wanton still? who would be a liar, and a Thievish servant still? Let me tell ye, that while ye go on in these sins, you are out of Christ: Poor soul, a Swearer, a Drunkard, a common Liar, a Sabbath-breaker, a Wanton, out of Christ, and thy temptations fall heavily upon thee; the Lord knows, thou art all alone in the time of thy temptations: Oh! but, get into Jesus Christ, get into Jesus Christ, to be in the number of Christs true Disciples; and when thou art tempted, the Lord prays for thee; yea, and the love and mercy of Christ is never more at work for thee, than when thou art most tempted, and assaulted by Satan.