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

I'll conclude this, Is it not matter of Praise, and Thanksgiving, That by this mud you shall be more cleansed? Beloved! this is Christs way: he suffers men to be tempted, that they may be freed from more temptations, and he suffers this dirt to be cast upon them, that they may be the more cleansed. Simon, Simon (says our Saviour) Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat: How so? Satan goes up and down like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour. True, that is his intent in his Temptations; Satan's intent in the temptation, is not to winnow, that is Christs intent: Satan's intent in the temptation is to devour, but Jesus Christs intent in all those temptations are to winnow. And who more knowing? who more gracious? who more humble? who more thankful than those that have been most assaulted with a temptation? Pray observe what is said in the 2 of the Corinths, 12. Chapter 7. verse. Says Paul. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger Satan, (so it may be read without, of.) The messenger Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure, again. See how that goes before and follows: it begins the verse, and ends the verse: Lest I should be exalted above measure, at the beginning of the verse: Lest I should be exalted above measure, at the latter end of the verse. As if now, that these temptations were special preservations against spiritual pride: 'tis set down twice, Least I should be exalted above measure; again, and ⟨p. 315⟩again. Spiritual pride indeed is very dangerous. It was Mr Fox his speech: As I get good by my sins, so I get hurt by my graces: in regard of that spiritual pride he was guilty of upon the receipt of them. By Temptation God uses to keep men humble. The Hebrew word for Lees, the Lees of wine; comes from the root, that signifies to Keep, because the wines are kept by the Lees. And so God is pleased to keep men humble by these Temptations, in these Lees, and in these dregs God keeps mens graces. Temptations do you no hurt till ye yield to them. The greater the Temptation, and the more your flesh does tremble at it; the greater the Affliction, but the lesser the Sin. Temptation is the souls Rape: it may deflower your soul, offer violence to your soul; it cannot take away your innocency.

I'le conclude this, Is it not matter of Praise, and Thanksgiving, That by this mud you shal be more cleansed? Beloved! this is Christs way: he suffers men to be tempted, that they may be freed from more temptations, and he suffers this dirt to be cast upon them, that they may be the more cleansed. Simon, Simon (saies our Saviour) Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheat: How so? Satan goes up and down like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may devour. True, that is his intent in his Temptations; Satans intent in the temptation, is not to winnow, that is Christs intent: Satans intent in the temptation is to devour, but Jesus Christs intent in al those temptations are to winnow. And who more konwing? who more gracious? who more humble? who more thankful than those that have been most assaulted with a temptation? Pray observe what is said in the 2 of the Corinths, 12. Chapter 7. verse. Saies Paul. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given me a thorne in the flesh, the messenger Satan, (so it may be read without, of.) The messenger Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure, again. See how that goes before and follows: it begins the verse, and ends the verse: Lest I should be exalted above measure, at the beginning of the verse: Lest I should be exalted above measure, at the latter end of the verse. As if now, that these temptations were special preservations against spiritual pride: 'tis set down twice, Least I should be exalted above measure; again, and