A77357:190
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in CambridgeThe vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge: now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The second volume. [sic] Viz. 1. Grace for grace; or, The overflowing of Christs fullness received by all saints. II. The spiritual actings of faith through natural impossibilities. III. Evangelical repentance.The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge: now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The second volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. Grace for grace; or, The overflowing of Christs fulness received by all saints. II. The spiritual actings of faith through natural impossibilities. III. Evangelical repentance.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1649
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Thirdly. This truth is also argued, §3from the Shortness of the means of grace. Much means of grace appointed; but take the means as it is in it self without Gods appointment, or institution upon it, & you will find that all means are too short to reach the end. For example: In the old Testament, when the Lord would take in Jericho, and break down the walls of Jericho; He Commands,1 The Rams horns should be blown. Take the blowing of the Rams-horns as lying under Gods appointment, and so this action was sufficient for to break down the walls: but take the action of blowing the Rams-horns by it self, and so it was too short. So the Lord commands Naaman, 2To go and wash himself in the water of Jordan: take this action of Naaman washing himself in the water; take it (I say) without Gods Commandment: take it with Gods Commandment, Gods Appointment, so it was sufficient to reach his Cure, and heal him of his Leprosy: but now, take the action as it was in it self, without the Appointment, and institution ⟨p. 56⟩of God, and so it was too short to reach his Cure. So in the new Testament:3 our Saviour Christ, He takes spittle and clay for to cure a mans eyes: Take this under Christs appointment, and so it's sufficient to reach the cure; but take it without, and so short. So God did appoint in Baptism a man should be washed in water; and in the Sacrament we should eat bread, and drink wine, for the begetting, and increasing of Faith. Take these actions as they lie under Gods Appointment, and Institution, they are able to reach this end: but take these actions as they are in themselves, washing in water; and eating bread, and drinking wine; they are all too short; all too short, either to beget, or increase Grace. Well now, why does the Lord still appoint such means, as in themselves are too short for the end whereto appointed? Surely, not only for this reason, that he might teach us, that the thing done is rather by the appointment, then by the use of means: but also to show thus much, That though we do use the means, yet notwithstanding in the use of the means, we do not attain the thing by the use thereof; but that in the using of means, and waiting there, we shall receive strength from God to do it, to attain the end. Whensoever therefore, you consider the shortness of the means appointed, conclude thus, That all is in a way of Receiving: