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

Oh! Therefore now, as ever you do desire, to have more Grace, more Holiness, more Comfort; study, and study much this Priestly office of Jesus Christ. There are many that complain, that they cannot profit under the means of grace: That they have hard hearts: That the ways, and Ordinances of God are not sweet to them; Prayer they do perform, but with no sweetness, they do not relish the blood and Spirit of Christ upon their spirits in their duties, &c. Many complain that their sins, and temptations (like the sons of Zarviah) are too mighty for ⟨p. 22⟩them, and that one day they shall be slain by the hand of Saul, such a lust, such a corruption. No wonder that we have these complaints, when we do not go unto the storehouse of comfort, and grace that the Lord hath set open for us. The Priestly office of Christ, it is the great Magazine, and Storehouse, of all that grace, and comfort which we have on this side heaven: if ye do not go unto it, is it any wonder that ye want comfort, or that ye want grace? I appeal to you now; are there not some nay, many that never went to Jesus Christ as their High-Priest to this day? Ah, are there not some even Professors, that do not know what the Priestly Office of Jesus Christ means? Oh! No wonder (poor soul) so uncomfortable, no more strength against thy temptations. If the State should appoint a man for to relieve poor, maimed soldiers, that go a begging: if they meet with the same man that is appointed by the State, and they beg of him in the streets as an ordinary man, he relieves them not: but now, if they come unto him, as a man appointed by the State for relief of such, then he relieves them according to the duty of his place. So it is with men, they go to Christ in an ordinary way, they do not go to Christ as the great Lord Treasurer of all our grace, as our great High-Priest, they do not go unto him as in office, set up in office by God the Father for such relief: they do not address themselves to him as their High-Priest to make satisfaction for them, and therefore they go away and have no relief. But would we have more strength against corruption? would we walk more comfortably in our course? would we find the ways of God, Ordinances, and duties more sweet and comfortable to our souls? then read, and consider that place in the Canticles, 2.3.

Oh! Therefore now, as ever you do desire, to have more Grace, more Holiness, more Comfort; study, and study much this Priestly office of Jesus Christ. There are many that complain, that they cannot profit under the means of grace: That they have hard hearts: That the waies, and Ordinances of God are not sweet to them; Prayer they do perform, but with no sweetness, they do not relish the blood and Spirit of Christ upon their spirits in their duties, &c. Many complain that their sins, and temptations (like the sons of Zarviah) are too mighty for