A77357:475
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.
There are two especially that Jesus Christ does commend for believing:1 the Canaanitish woman; and the Centurion. To the one, says he, O woman great is thy faith. Concerning the other: I have not seen such faith, no not in Jsrael. And both of these believed above hope, and under hope, when the means in view, seemed to chide them off from believing. In that eleventh of the Hebrews, many of the Saints are commended for their Faith: They had other graces, wherein they did excel: Moses was a Meek man, he is not recorded there, and commended for his meekness, but for his Faith. Sampson was a stout, and a resolute man: he is not commended there for that, but for his Faith. They had other excellent graces, but this grace of Faith is singled out to wear the Crown:2 They all obtained a good report through Faith. That wears the Crown of all other graces. And you shall find that that Faith was mingled with many weaknesses: Rahab, one of those believers, what a deal of weakness passed from her, in her believing. Yet notwithstanding, though their ⟨p. 181⟩Faith was clogged with many weaknesses, yet their Faith is commended, and most of them believing beyond means, and when all means failed: plainly speaking out this truth to us: The great acceptation that such a Faith hath with God. Beloved! this faith, believing when all means fail, and lye dead before us, turns God about; (as we may speak with reverence) and make God, of an enemy, a seeming enemy; to become our friend. If you trust unto your friend, for a kindness; he will do it because you rest on him: if you rest upon an enemy, he fails you: but if you rest on God, he will therefore do it because you rest on him, and he will become your friend by your resting on him. Oh! I have been a great and a wretched sinner: Yet notwithstanding, I know there is infinite riches of grace in Christ, and therefore says the soul, I will rest on him: yea Lord, though thou kill me, yet will I rest upon thee. I, (says the Lord) wilt thou now rest upon me, now I frown, now I chide, now I have a rod in my hand, now I have a sword in my hand to kill thee (as it were) wilt thou now rest upon me? Well, be of good comfort, thou art mine for ever: Man, or woman, go in peace, good is thy faith. This resting thus upon God, when all means fail, it melts Gods anger into love.