A77357:426
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.
Whilst I stand upon this truth,1 me thinks I see matter of great, and everlasting encouragement to all the Saints and people of God: be not discouraged, but rather keep silence, wait, and stay upon God when the darkest times go over your head; when the sentence of death is put upon the Mercy, and blessing which you do most desire. This is Gods way, when he intends any great Mercy to any of his children, he puts a sentence of death first upon it. Oh! when death sits upon the means,2 then we conclude all's dead, the Mercy dead, all's gone; and we are very apt to have despairing thoughts, and to make despondent conclusions. I said in my hast (says he) all men are liars: Samuel says, I shall have a Kingdom; the sentence of death is put upon the business; All men are liars. 3So in another place: I said in my hast, I am cast out of thy sight: shall I see the face of God? nothing but death upon all the means;4 I am cast out of thy sight. So with Hezekiah, I said (says he) I shall be cast out of the Land of the living. And so now adays: I thought indeed that we should have had a Reformation; but now nothing but sad Division: I thought we should have had free enjoyment of all the Ordinances: but now the sentence of death put upon all. I had thought I should have had Assurance, and never doubted again; but now death put upon it, ⟨p. 165⟩and upon all the means that do lead unto it: all's dead, all's gone: Oh! we are very apt to be much discouraged, & to make strange conclusions when death comes upon the means: 'tis a hard thing to keep from such conclusions: For the business comes to a Vote (as it were) it comes to a Vote before the Soul. The question is (saith the Soul) whether I shall be saved or no? As many as are for the Affirmative, say, I: I, says the Promise. As many as are for the Negative, say, No: No, says Threatenings; and, No, says guilty Conscience; No, no, no, says a thousand sins. The question is, whether I shall be delivered or no? I am in such an Affliction, and straitness; the question is whether I shall be delivered or no? As many as are for the Affirmative, say, I: I, says the Promise. As many as are for the Negative say, No: No, says Providence; No, say all second Causes, and all the means round about; No, no, no, say a thousand sins.