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

Faith can go into the Old Testament, and run up as high as Adam, and come back again to the Soul, and tell the Soul: I have seen a man whom God hath pardoned that damned all the ⟨p. 176⟩World; and why may he not pardon thee? Faith can run up to Heaven, and come home again to the Soul; and say, I have seen the Glory there: be of good comfort, there's enough in Heaven to pay for all. Faith can run unto Gods All-sufficiency, to Gods Omnipotency; and having viewed that well, it returns to the Soul home again; and says, be quiet, there's enough in God alone: and Faith having placed, and seated it self upon this high Tower and Mountain; Gods Omnipotency and All-sufficiency; it hath a great prospect, it can look over all the World, and look into another World too: but now Reason, it gets upon some little Mole-hill of Creature-ability; and if it can see over two or three hedges, 'tis well And therefore; Oh! what a pain is it to Faith, to be tied to Reason. I suppose you will all say, that if a man were able to go a journey of two or three hundred miles a foot, he were a very good footman: yet if you will tie him to carry a child of four or five years old with him; you will say, it would be a great luggage to him; and the man would say, pray let this child be left at home: for though he may run along in my hand half a mile, or go a mile with me; yet notwithstanding I must carry him the rest of the way: and when I come at any great water, or to go over any hill, I must take him upon my back; and that will be a great burden to me. And thus 'tis between Faith and Reason: Reason (at the best) is but a child to Faith: Faith can foot it over Mountains and Difficulties, and wade through Afflictions, though they be very wide: but when Reason comes to any Affliction, to wade through that, and to go over some great Difficulties; then it cries out and says, Oh! Faith, good Faith go back again, good Faith go back again: No (says Faith) but I'll take thee upon my back Reason: and so Faith is fain to do indeed; take Reason upon its back: but, Oh! what a luggage is Reason to Faith? Oh! what a burden is Reason to Faith? Faith never works better, then when it works most alone. The mere rational considering of the means, and the deadness thereof, is a great and special enemy ⟨p. 177⟩to the work of believing. That is the First.

Faith can go into the Old Testament, and run up as high as Adam, and come back again to the Soul, and tel the Soul: I have seene a man whom God hath pardoned that damn'd all the