A77357:91
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.
Fourthly,1 If there be such a fullness of grace in Christ: Then let us all labour to be like unto Him; full of grace as Christ, full of meekness, full of humility, full of Love especially; for there is a fullness of love in Christ. And yet, alas! when ever was there less love, and more strife then now? when ever less love among Professors? when ever more strife then now? Give me leave a little: Beloved in the Lord! you see, and know what great divisions there are among us, great strifes. All strife and envy arises from ⟨p. 17⟩an apprehension of scantiness, and narrowness in the thing desired. Now then, that which we do strive for; either it is more of the World: Or more of Christ. If it be more of the World that we strive for; who shall be most Rich, who shall have most Honour: if it be more of the world that we strive for: Why? Oh! why should we strive for that which may make us worser, but cannot make us better? why should we strive for that, when as the very striving for it, will deprive us of it? If it be more of Christ that we strive for: (mark) if it be more of Jesus Christ, and more of Him that we strive for; There is enough in Him, there is enough in Jesus Christ for to serve us all. If two, or three, or six, or twenty men be a thirst; and they go to drink out of a Bottle: while one is drinking the other envies, because he thinks there will not be enough for him too: But if now, five, six, twenty, a hundred be a thirst; and go to the River: while one is drinking the other envies not: Why? because there is enough to serve them all. Beloved! if it be more of Christ that we strive for, if it be more of Jesus Christ that we strive for; there is a fullness in Him, there is enough in Christ; there is enough in Jesus Christ (ye have heard) to serve all our turns. Oh! therefore, that there may be no more striving, no more envy, no more contention, no more division, labour, let us all labour to be more and more like unto Jesus Christ: He was full of grace, especially He was full of love, let us labour to to be like unto Him.
Fourthly,1 If there be such a fulness of grace in Christ: Then let us all labour to be like unto Him; full of grace as Christ, full of meekness, full of humility, full of Love especially; for there is a fulness of love in Christ. And yet, alas! when ever was there lesse love, and more strife then now? when ever lesse love among Professors? when ever more strife then now? Give me leave a little: Beloved in the Lord! you see, and know what great divisions there are among us, great strifes. All strife and envy arises from