A77358:101
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volume. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1649
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.
Duty 3 Thirdly. If we be alive indeed, and made partakers of this Spiritual life; Why is our Communion and Fellowship together no more living? Why no more living Fellowship and Communion? why is our Conference no more warm and living? A living coal warms (ye know:) There is this difference between a living coal, and a dead coal: Take a Dead coal, and though it be never so great or small, it sullies and blacks (more or less) but it warms not. But take your Living coal, which hath fire in it, and though it be never so great or small, it does warm, in proportion, more or less it warms: And if we be as Living coals, why then is our Conference and Communion together no more warming? When ye go into Wicked and Ungodly company, ⟨p. 22⟩there ye meet with dead coals, and there ye are sullied, and dirtied, and blacked by them. (I say) If ye indeed be living coals, why is your Conference no more warm and living? Oh! what sad times are we now fallen into? Heretofore, some four, or six, or ten years ago, ye should not come into a Christians company, but you should have some heart-warming Conference that you should bless God for many years after. As 'tis said of Junius, he came into a poor countryman's house, and he spake so feelingly of Christ, that he thought it was not Knowledge only, that would serve a mans turn, and thereupon he thought of his own condition, and was turned to God. And we read of the Martyrs in the Primitive times, when they met together, they would speak much of the Kingdom, the Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven! in so much, as their Accusers, their Enemies, and Persecutors, charged them, That they aimed at the Empire, and the Kingdom; whereas they were speaking of a Heavenly Kingdom, and not of an Earthly Kingdom. But (I say) they were always speaking of the Kingdom, the Kingdom. And so heretofore, in former times, when Christians did meet together, then they would speak of the Kingdom, and something that would warm their hearts together, that they might be the better all the year after: But now, when we are met together, either our speech is about News, or some Dispute in point of Religion, or some other thing; yea, though it be upon the Lords-day. But if you be living coals, Where is your living Conference? and your heart-warming-Communion?
Duty 3 Thirdly. If we be alive indeed, and made partakers of this Spiritual life; Why is our Communion and Fellowship together no more living? Why no more living Fellowship and Communion? why is our Conference no more warm and living? A living coal warms (ye know:) There is this difference between a living coal, and a dead coal: Take a Dead coal, and though it be never so great or small, it sullies and blacks (more or lesse) but it warms not. But take your Living coal, which hath fire in it, and though it be never so great or small, it does warm, in proportion, more or lesse it warms: And if we be as Living coals, why then is our Conference and Communion together no more warming? When ye go into Wicked and Ungodly company,