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

Again, It is one thing for a man to have more sorrow, grief, §5Repentance in the Ore: and another thing to have a more sorrow, grief, and Repentance that is well Refined. As now, suppose a man take a hand full of gold in the Ore; it seems to be a great deal more than a twenty shilling-piece: I but, because much of that is to be taken away, a great deal of Earth is to be taken away, it is less in the worth. Thus it is between Legal Repentance, and Evangelical: The Legal Repentance may seem to be more in bulk: I but, a great deal of that is to be taken away: Much unbelief to be taken away: many sad, despairing conclusions to be taken away: a great deal of Mercenariness to be taken away. And therefore ye shall observe, That when the father had kissed the Prodigal, he left out the Mercenary piece that he spoke of before he came home. Says he (at the 18. verse) I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more ⟨p. 250⟩worthy to be called thy Son: make me as one of thy hired servants: (in the 15. Chapter, the 18. and 19. verses) verse the 20. He arose and came to his father: his father saw him, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him, had compassion on him: ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: And the son said unto him, Father: (Now see whether he makes good his words, that he said he would say when he came to his father) I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy Son: But his Father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe: He leaves out that, Make me as one of thy hired servants. One kiss from his father had filed off all the mercenary disposition. Oh! much, much of the Legal-work is to be taken away: In Evangelical Repentance, there is much in little: in Legal Repentance there is little in much.

Again, It is one thing for a man to have more sorrow, griefe, §5Repentance in the Ore: and another thing to have a more sorrow, griefe, and Repentance that is well Refin'd. As now, suppose a man take a hand full of gold in the Ore; it seems to be a great deal more than a twenty shilling-piece: I but, because much of that is to be taken away, a great deal of Earth is to be taken away, it is less in the worth. Thus it is between Legal Repentance, and Evangelical: The Legal Repentance may seem to be more in bulk: I but, a great deal of that is to be taken away: Much unbelief to be taken away: many sad, despairing conclusions to be taken away: a great deal of Mercinariness to be taken away. And therefore ye shall observe, That when the father had kiss't the Prodigal, he left out the Mercinary piece that he spoke of before he came home. Saies he (at the 18. verse) I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more