A77357:356
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.
As for Profane men: they will be Drunk, and Swear, and commit Adultery and Lye, and break the Sabbath: But would Jesus Christ do so? They count it the life of their life, and the soul of their soul, to be at a merry meeting, a jovial meeting: but would Jesus Christ do so? When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, He went up and down doing good, and scattering good, communicating good; and they go up and down scattering their sins: and is this Grace for Grace? is this Answerable? I appeal to you.
As for those that are merely Civil, Moral: Though they will not swear great, and gross Oaths; yet swear by their faith, and by their Troth: but would Jesus Christ do so? They carry a secret spleen, and envy at the power of godliness, and those that have it: but would Jesus Christ do so? They frame up their Religion, and their Worship according to the Times; if Authority command it, they will ⟨p. 123⟩they will do it whatever it be: but would Jesus Christ do so? When Jesus Christ was upon the earth, He was Zealous, The Zeal of thine house hath eaten me up: 1but they are formal, and they are Luke-warm: Oh! is this Grace for Grace? is this your Answer ableness? and are these in Jesus Christ? As for those that are Hypocrites: They have always some secret sin or other, some back-door or other that they may go out at: but had lesus Christ so? They lie contemplating, and chewing of the Devils Cud; and are indulgent to their base thoughts, their sinful thoughts; but was Jesus Christ so? They savour gifts, and expressions more then Graces: but did jesus Christ do so? They, though they seem to be mortified, and dead unto the grosser part of the world, meat, drink, and clothes: yet they are no way mortified, and dead unto the finer part of the world, their Names, and their Credits: Was it thus with Jesus Christ? Indeed an Hypocrite, through the strength of Education, living under the Gospel, may set himself to imitate Christ: but there is an Artificial imitation; and a Natural resemblance. A father may have two sons; The one that is unlike him, but imitates him: the other that does naturally resemble the father, and imitate him too: Such are the Saints, being made partakers of the Divine Nature; they naturally care for the things of Christ: hypocrites do not so. Behold! here's the Character of a Christian indeed, he hath Grace for Grace, whatever Grace there is in Christ, he hath somewhat Answerable thereunto. Oh! how few men and women are there in the world, that have a saving share and interest in Jesus Christ!