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

I have hereby an opportunity of exercising that grace, that I had not before, and then he will bless God, and then he will be thankful in that condition: when God takes away one mercy, he gives another: if he take away Moses, he will give a Joshua: if he take away Ely, he will give a Samuel: if he will take away Christs personal presence, he will send the holy Ghost. And the truth is, he does not so much take away, as borrow a mercy; and he pays it again with usury, and advantage: Onesimus goes away like a thief from Philemon, but he returns again with profit to him and others. As for these outward things, they will prove but debts at the great day of Judgment: riches now, and gifts now but debts then: and the less ye have of these outward things, the less ye have to reckon for them. In a bad day, men they say, Oh! that I had less, my reckoning would be less: the less ye have, the less your reckoning will be. The comfort of a mans life, consists not in Muchness, ⟨p. 309⟩but fitness to his heart. If a man have a great Farm, and a small stock, it is the only way to break him: it's better to have a Farm fit for ones stock, than a great Farm. The Lord he sees what our stock of grace is, and accordingly he provides a Farm for every one of his Children; and sometimes it is lessened, but the reason is, because the stock of grace is no bigger, they have no more grace to stock it withal. Our Gifts, and our Parts, and our Prosperity they are so strong sometimes, that God is fain to mingle water therewithal, that we may not be drunk. I appeal to you: are not the Saints gainers by all their losses? are not they strengthened by all their weakness? are not they bettered by all their crosses? Surely then, in all things they are to be thankful: though their affliction be exceeding long, sharp, and grievous; yet they are to be thankful in that condition.

I have hereby an opportunity of exercising that grace, that I had not before, and then he will blesse God, and then he will be thankful in that condition: when God takes away one mercy, he gives another: if he take away Moses, he will give a Joshua: if he take away Ely, he will give a Samuel: if he will take away Christs personal presence, he wil send the holy Ghost. And the truth is, he does not so much take away, as borrow a mercy; and he payes it again with usery, and advantage: Onesimus goes away like a thief from Philemon, but he returns again with profit to him and others. As for these outward things, they will prove but debts at the great day of Judgment: riches now, and gifts now but debts then: and the lesse ye have of these outward things, the lesse ye have to reckon for them. In a bad day, men they say, Oh! that I had less, my reckoning would be lesse: the lesse ye have, the lesse your reckoning will be. The comfort of a mans life, consists not in Muchness,