A77357:635
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.
'Tis with Gods darlings, as 'tis with the worlds-darlings. ⟨p. 233⟩You have some men take a great deal of pains, rise early, and go to bed late, and yet the world does not smile upon them: these are the world's enemies. Some take pains, and grow rich thereby; these are the worlds friends, Others there are again, that before ever they take any pains the Lord is upon them with the worlds blessings; these are the worlds darlings. So I say, God hath his darlings; and if thou art one of Gods darlings, He does cause the Kingdom of Heaven, Grace, and Free-remission to appear and draw near unto thy soul, even before thou dost draw near to it. Hath God dealt thus by any of you? Oh! contemplate, consider seriously the sweetness of this grace. Beloved! preventing grace, is sweet grace. The Lord gave a Grown, a Kingdom to David; but the best Pearl in all the Crown, that his eye was most upon, was Gods preventing mercy:1 Lord (says he) thou hast prevented me with the goodness of thy blessing. As if he had said thus; Lord, thou hast not only given me a kingdom, made me a King over thy people; but when I was a poor Shepherd, keeping my fathers sheep: thou diddest prevent me with thy love. So may a poor soul say, Ah, Lord, thou hast not only given me a kingdom, but thou hast prevented me with thy love. 'Tis a great matter, that the great God of Heaven and Earth should answer our prayers, give us any mercy upon our request: I, but that the Lord should give us the greatest mercy before we come for it. Pray good people mark it a little, Ye shall observe, that the greatest mercies that ye have; ye have them, and they are given unto you before you come for them. There are some great mercies that a Christian hath: as Conversion of his soul, Justification, Remission of sin: Some lesser mercies; as comfort, and peace, and outward plenty. As for these lesser mercies, God gives them when we do come for them: but as for the great Mercies; Remission of sin; Justification of our persons; Conversion of our souls, God is upon us with these mercies before we come for them: Oh! what grace is here! Oh! what glorious, rich grace is here! What! shall be not ⟨p. 234⟩stand and admire at the glory of this free grace of God in Jesus Christ!