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

You will say, How should I do this? Quest. to believe when all means fail and lie dead before me? I have a great prospect in my sins; the guilt of one sin comes and that hath a blow at my conscience: and the guilt of another sin that comes and that gives a blow to my conscience, and my conscience is all black and blue with blows, and they all cry out and say, poor damned, damned and undone creature, and I see no way, no means at all left for my salvation; Ah! Lord, what shall I do to believe now when all means fail?

You will say, How should I do this? Quest. to beleeve when all meanes faile and lie dead before me? I have a great prospect in my sinnes; the guilt of one sinne comes and that hath a blow at my conscience: and the guilt of another sinne that comes and that gives a blow to my conscience, and my conscience is all blacke and blue with blowes, and they all cry out and say, poor damn'd, damn'd and undone creature, and I see no way, no meanes at all left for my salvation; Ah! Lord, what shall I do to beleeve now when all meanes faile?

I shall only speak a word to it, and so wind up all, Answ. thus;

I shall onely speake a word to it, and so winde up all, Answ. thus;

Know, that thou mayest trust God, that thou mayest find Mercy, that thou mayest believe in such a case as this is. Beloved, therefore thou hast not believed in such a case heretofore, because thou didst think thou mightst not believe. But now know from the Lord, 'tis no temptation, 'tis no presumption, in such a case as this thou mayest lean thy poor guilty soul upon God this day. I am loath to make ⟨p. 190⟩