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. Even godly men do it too much. Abraham, though the father of the faithful, went into Hagar, the type of the Law. And so now the children of Abraham, (Believers) do too much go into Hagar still, and to the Law still. When a man cannot, dares not rely upon Jesus Christ, till he first sees his own Duty, and his own Prayer, and Enlargement in Duty; then he does this too much. When a man does measure all his Acceptance with God the Father, by his own Performance; if I be Enlarged, then I am Accepted; if I am straightened, now I am not Accepted; then he does this too much. When a man will not come to Christ, till his heart be first quickened, and warmed by some particular word; then he does this too much. But Oh! you, you that are godly, labour I beseech ye in Christ, to stand clear from your own Duties, and Doings. The more distinct knowledge ye have in this Truth, and the more ye walk in the sense of it, the more Spiritual and Holy ye will be.

Answ. Even godly men do it too much. Abraham, though the father of the faithful, went into Hagar, the type of the Law. And so now the children of Abraham, (Beleevers) do too much go into Hagar still, and to the Law still. When a man cannot, dares not relye upon Jesus Christ, till he first sees his own Duty, and his own Prayer, and Inlargment in Duty; then he does this too much. When a man does measure all his Acceptance with God the Father, by his own Performance; if I be Enlarged, then I am Accepted; if I am straightened, now I am not Accepted; then he does this too much. When a man will not come to Christ, till his heart be first quickened, and warmed by some particular word; then he does this too much. But Oh! you, you that are godly, labour I beseech ye in Christ, to stand clear from your own Duties, and Doings. The more distinct knowledge ye have in this Truth, and the more ye walk in the sence of it, the more Spiritual and Holy ye will be.

Object. 1 But will some say (that I may take off some scruples, and answer some Cases of Conscience) If these things be so; then do I fear that my Obedience was never right, for truly, I have even turned aside to a Covenant of Works, the Lord knows I have: I remember the time, when I had Legal-breakings, and all my Obedience hath flowed from thence: Is Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone, the fountain and spring-head of all our Obedience, and Holiness? then seeing that Legal-breakings have been the spring-head of all my Obedience; then do I fear my Obedience was never right; Oh! I fear that I have been wrong all this while, that I have been but an Hypocrite all this while, and have deceived my self, and been under the Law all this while.