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

Besides, God the Father hath so ordered things in the dispensations of His Grace, that he might take the most contentment, and complacency, and delight in the duties, ⟨p. 99⟩and services of his People: this is the only way to it. This is my beloved Son (says he) in whom I am well pleased. ¹If there be a garment that is laid with gold-lace, hung or stuck full of Pearls; though the Cloth of the garment be not much worth; yet because of the gold-lace, and the Pearls that are upon it, you count it very precious. Such are our duties; the Cloth of our duty is not much worth, but because of the golden-lace, and the Pearls of the Graces of Jesus Christ, they are very precious. 'Tis not in regard of our duties, as in regard of your flowers, or posies: let a flower, or posy be never so sweet, they receive not any of the sweetness from the bosom that it sticks in: the posy does sweeten the bosom, but the bosom does not sweeten the posy. I but now, the duty that is stuck in the bosom of Jesus Christ, is sweetened by the bosom, by the bosom that it sticks in. Pray mark therefore what is said in the 11. of the Canticles for this purpose. (Says the Spouse at the 12. ver.) When, (or while) the King sitteth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. My Spikenard: what is that? The Graces, and the duties, and the services of Gods People, they are His Spikenard: this Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof, while the King sitteth at his talbe; while it is in the presence of Jesus Christ; whilst the posy is in His bosom it smells sweet, else it does not. Now God the Father, (I say) He hath so ordered things, that He may take a complacency, and contentment in the duties, and services of His People, and therefore it is that all their Graces they come from Jesus Christ, by virtue of Him.

Besides, God the Father hath so ordered things in the dispensations of His Grace, that he might take the most comentment, and complacency, and delight in the duties, ⟨p. 99⟩and services of his People: this is the only way to it. This is my beloved Son (saies he) in whom I am well pleased. ¹If there be a garment that is laid with gold-lace, hung or stuck full of Pearls; though the Cloth of the garment be not much worth; yet because of the gold-lace, and the Pearls that are upon it, you count it very precious. Such are our duties; the Cloth of our duty is not much worth, but because of the golden-lace, and the Pearls of the Graces of Jesus Christ, they are very precious. 'Tis not in regard of our duties, as in regard of your flowers, or posies: let a flower, or posy be never so sweet, they receive not any of the sweetness from the bosom that it sticks in: the posy does sweeten the bosom, but the bosom does not sweeten the posy. I but now, the duty that is stuck in the bosom of Jesus Christ, is sweetned by the bosom, by the bosom that it sticks in. Pray mark therefore what is said in the 11. of the Canticles for this purpose. (Saies the Spouse at the 12. ver.) When, (or while) the King sitteth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. My Spikenard: what is that? The Graces, and the duties, and the services of Gods People, they are His Spikenard: this Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof, while the King sitteth at his talbe; while it is in the presence of Jesus Christ; whilst the posy is in His bosom it smels sweet, else it does not. Now God the Father, (I say) He hath so ordered things, that He may take a complacency, and contentment in the duties, and services of His People, and therefore it is that all their Graces they come from Jesus Christ, by vertue of Him.