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

First of all, consider your call, often consider your call, §1your first call to a work; and put your selves often unto this disjunction, Either God hath called me to this work, or else he hath not. If God hath not called me, what means this Scripture? And what means that Scripture? And what means the other Scripture? And if God hath called me, why should I lay down the work for any difficulty? Will not he carry me through? And know this, that difficulties do sometimes arise in our way, to make a stoppage in our proceedings: and sometimes they arise only to draw out our faith. When as thou seest thy call clear unto any work, then say, these difficulties arise only to draw out my faith, and not to make a stoppage in my proceedings.

First of all, consider your call, often consider your call, §1your first call to a worke; and put your selves often unto this disjunction, Either God hath called me to this worke, or else he hath not. If God hath not called me, what meanes this Scripture? And what meanes that Scripture? And what meanes the other Scripture? And if God hath called me, why should I lay down the work for any difficulty? Will not he carry me through? And know this, that difficulties do sometimes arise in our way, to make a stoppage in our proceedings: and sometimes they arise onely to draw out our faith. When as thou seest thy call cleare unto any work, then say, these difficulties arise onely to draw out my faith, and not to make a stoppage in my proceedings.

In the second place, consider this, §2That the more you believe in the face of difficulty, the more you please God. Nothing so pleasing to God, as believing in the face of difficulty. God will trust him with much, that trusts much to God: God will break through many difficulties to save thy soul, if thou canst break through many difficulties to come to him. There's no grace does more honour God, then Faith; of all graces it honours God most: and of all the pieces of faith, none do more honour God, then believing in the face of difficulties. When therefore any difficulty or natural discouragement does arise, say, the Lord pardon me; Oh! I have dishonoured God enough already: is this the way for to honour God, to believe in the face of difficulties, and natural discouragements? Here now I have more opportunity to do it; the Lord help me, now will I set my self to believe.