A77358:144
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.
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.
Answ. Stay a little, You read in Scripture concerning Jacob ⟨p. 41⟩and Esau: 'tis said, That the Elder shall serve the Younger. 1That is (says Luther) in a spiritual way: the Elder, the Law, shall serve the Younger, the Gospel: and the Elder Sin, shall serve the Younger Grace. Now, have your former Legal-breakings, made you more for to prize Grace? and to prize Christ? and to prize Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone? Here then, the Elder does serve the Younger. And what though Legal-breakings were first, and were the Elder in your heart, yet so long as the Elder does serve the Younger, thou hast no reason to be discouraged in this respect.
Answ. Stay a little, You read in Scripture concerning Jacob ⟨p. 41⟩and Esau: 'tis said, That the Elder shall serve the Younger. 1That is (saies Luther) in a spiritual way: the Elder, the Law, shall serve the Younger, the Gospel: and the Elder Sin, shall serve the Younger Grace. Now, have your former Legal-breakings, made you more for to prize Grace? and to prize Christ? and to prize Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone? Here then, the Elder does serve the Younger. And what though Legal-breakings were first, and were the Elder in your heart, yet so long as the Elder does serve the Younger, thou hast no reason to be discouraged in this respect.