A77357:347
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. There is an incomparable, and glorious, Rea. 3 blessed love between Christ and a Christian. Love, loves to make a thing loved to be like it self. Love in an Inferior is of an ⟨p. 118⟩Imitating Nature: and love in a Superior is of a Similitating Nature. Now therefore, if there be love between Christ and a Christian, they must needs be very like; and love there is: Christ loves the Saints above all the world; and the Saints love Christ above all the world. Only Christs love exceeds: for when the Spouse speaks of Christ in the Canticles, she calls Him, My beloved, in the Concrete: but when He speaks of her, He calls her my love my dove, in the Abstract. Jesus Christ had loving thoughts towards the Saints before the world was: as ye read in the 8. of the Proverbs, and the 29. verse. Says wisdom, (and so Christ) there: When He gave to the Sea His Decree, that the waters should not pass His Commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: I was daily His delight (verse the 31.) Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth: and my delights were with the sons of men. Jesus Christ was then in the bosom of His Father, He had enough to take up His heart with full delight; and yet notwithstanding, before the Saints were, His love was towards them, and His delight was in them: Surely, if He loved them so much before they had a being, when they have a being, He will exercise, and put forth that old, and ancient love of His in more abundance, towards them. When a man loves a Maid, or a Virgin: while she is in her fathers house, she is set a part for him: but now afterward, when she leaves her fathers house, and all her kindred, that she may only cleave unto him; then his heart is drawn out more: How am I engaged (says he) to love this woman, that hath left all the world to come unto me. So there was love in Christ towards the Saints while they were but set a part for Him in Gods Decree: but now when they shall leave their fathers house for Him, will He not then delight in them? See what is said in the 45. Psalm: Hearken, O daughter, (at the 10. verse) and consider, and incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy fathers house: So shall the King greatly desire, (or delight) in thy beauty. But delight in them, and love them he cannot; unless they be ⟨p. 119⟩like unto him:
Thirdly. There is an incomparable, and glorious, Rea. 3 blessed love between Christ and a Christian. Love, loves to make a thing loved to be like it self. Love in an Inferiour is of an