A77355:635
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.
I but, Quest. 'tis not only want of Reformation, but many Errors that are risen up among us in these times: and should we be Thankful now in this condition?
I but, Quest. 'tis not only want of Reformation, but many Errours that are risen up among us in these times: and should we be Thankful now in this condition?
Yes, Answ. Shall I not be Thankful for some grace, because it is mingled with much Corruption? Shall I not be Thankful for my field of Corn, because divers weeds are mingled therewith? Shall I cast away the kernel, because it is compassed ⟨p. 319⟩about with a shell? Luther, in the beginning of the Reformation, met with many Errors; and he comforted himself with this, When the Corn is grown, the weeds will die alone. Meaning this: When Reformation is come to greater strength, Errors would die alone. 'Tis said of our Lord and Saviour Christ,1 He was numbered among transgressors: Should not I love Christ, or own Christ, or be Thankful for Christ; because he was numbered among transgressors? The Errors of the time, you say, are the transgressors of the time: Shall I not love the Truth, and own the Truth, and be thankful for the Truth, because it is numbered among the transgressors, the transgressors of the time? Blessed is that man that can see a beauty in Truth, when it hath a scratched face. And indeed every Truth hath a beauty; & the Lord hath given you out many Truths in these times, that ye were ignorant of before. Beloved! I do not say, that ye should be thankful for any Error: we ought to be grieved for any Error. But shall we be so mindful against Error, crying out against Error, Error; as not to be thankful for any Truth we have? If the whole world were spread with Error; that one Truth living: Jesus Christ died for sinners; there were matter of Praise. The more Error does prevail, the more mercy it is, that you are kept. And truly, the only way, or a special way to be kept from Error, is to be thankful for Truth. As a way to be kept from sin is to be thankful for grace: So a special way to be kept from Error, is to be thankful for Truth. So then, Notwithstanding all this; yet you are to be thankful: Thankful even in this condition, though many Errors yet ye are to be thankful, to be in all things thankful, in every thing thankful. Thankful when ye are straitened, as well as when ye are most enlarged. Thankful when ye are Deserted, as well as when God shines upon you. Thankful when ye are Afflicted, as well as when ye are Delivered. Thankful when ye have no Victories, as well as when ye have Victories. Some, it may be, now will Praise the Lord