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…

Answ. 1 Thus, it appears by contraries: Contraries, have contrary Consequences. If the Law, and Justification thereby, be no ⟨p. 29⟩friend, but a real enemy unto all our Grace and Holiness, then Justification by faith alone is a friend to it. But now take the Law, and you shall find, that justification thereby, is no friend, but a real enemy unto all our Holiness, and the power of godliness. What greater enemies had the world ever to the power of godliness, than the Jews were? and they sought to establish their own Righteousness, and to be justified by the Law. And now a days, What more bitter, & more fell enemy unto the power of godliness, than a Moral Civil man? Why? Because though he do not understand himself, yet he doth secretly seek his acceptance with God, by his own doing, and good meaning. A man can never live to God, that lives in himself: So long as a man seeks Justification by his own doing, & working, he lives in himself. Therefore says the Apostle,¹ I desire not to be found in mine own righteousness, to be found in it. Hope is the Spring of action. The Plough-man ploughs in hope, & he sows in hope; Hope is the Spring of action. Now if a man seeks to be justified by the Law, or the works of the Law, there is no hope; for all works are imperfect: and if no hope, (says the soul) why should I work? as good never a whit, as never the better. That cannot be the Principle of our grace and holiness, which can neither Convert a man, nor mortify his sins, nor quicken one to what is good, nor comfort, or free him from temptation. Now I pray, What is it that Converts a soul to Christ? is it the Law, or the preaching of the Law? Nay,² (says our Saviour) I will send the Comforter, and he shall convince the world of sin. But where do I receive the Spirit? Says the Apostle in the next chapter, (the 3. of the Galatians) O ye foolish Galatians, this would I know of the, Received ye the Spirit by the preaching of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Not by the preaching of the Law. And as for Mortification of sin: Can the Law do that? Nay, (says the Apostle in the 8. of the Romans) The Law is weak: What the Law could not do, being weak, God sent his own Son, to condemn sin in the flesh. So that the Law cannot mortify sin, the Law cannot do it. And as for our Quickening unto ⟨p. 30⟩