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…

Thirdly, Acquaint your soul much, with the difference between the Covenant of Works, and the Covenant of Grace. In the Covenant of Works, a mans Work is first accepted, and then his Person: But in the Covenant of Grace, a mans Person is first accepted, and then his Work. And when you understand this, then you will say, I, if this be true, That a mans Person is first accepted, and then his Work, How can my Work any way fetch me in acceptance with God the Father? O my soul, for ever stand clear in this great matter of my Acceptance in my Duties.

Fourthly, when ever your Duties, your Works, and your Graces, are Highest, then, and then especially, use thy soul to be beyond them; and say thus: Though now (I bless the Lord) my heart is thus and thus Enlarged, yet I do not count upon my Acceptance, by reason of this Enlargement. Though (I bless the Lord) I have now Prayer, that before had none: yet I do not count my Acceptance with God the Father by this Prayer. When (I say) thy Duty is Highest, use thy soul to be beyond it.

Fourthly, when ever your Duties, your Works, and your Graces, are Highest, then, and then especially, use thy soul to be beyond them; and say thus: Though now (I blesse the Lord) my heart is thus and thus Inlarged, yet I do not count upon my Acceptance, by reason of this Inlargment. Though (I blesse the Lord) I have now Prayer, that before had none: yet I do not count my Acceptance with God the Father by this Prayer. When (I say) thy Duty is Highest, use thy soul to be beyond it.

Fifthly, When your Duty, Grace, and Holiness is lowest, ⟨p. 47⟩then know, that now ye have an opportunity to stand clear from your own Duties, and Workings, as to the matter of your Acceptance, and Justification by faith alone. If I have a friend in my house, that lives in my house with me, whom I would not have privy unto a Work, or a business; I'll take the opportunity to do the Work, when that friend is out of doors: now (say I) he is abroad; if he were at home, he would be prying over my shoulder, and he would have a singer in the business, and he would see it; but now he is abroad, now I will take the time to do it. My brethren, your Duties, Prayer, and Humiliation, they are all friends to your Justification: but when Prayer is out, and Duty is out, and abroad, and out of sight, and not at home; Now take your time to be clear in the matter of nesting upon Christ ad one, and say, Now my Prayer is gone, and Duties gone, and all out of sight, Oh! Lord, now I have an opportunity to rest upon Christ alone: had my Prayer been at home, and Duties at home; they would have been peering, and prying into this Work, but now they are all out of sight, now I will rest upon Christ, and his righteousness alone. This is certain, that this Justification by faith alone, and Free-remission of a poor sinner, 'tis the great fountain and principle of all our Grace and Holiness: and therefore, if you would be more Gracious, and more Holy; I beseech ye in the Name of Christ, study it much, and walk in the sense of it. And what's the reason, that many Professors are no more Holy, and Humble; but waspish, and peevish, and harsh, and of a rugged disposition? but because they have not studied the Gospel more, and Free-remission, and Justification by faith alone, and they have not the sense of this upon then hearts; poor souls, you want the Experience of this: you think (some of you) there is no such way to be Holy, and Gracious, as to have Legal-breakings, to have the Law pressed upon you: but I do here tell you in the Name of the Lord, and I lie not, That Justification by faith alone, and Free-remission, is the principle of all our Obedience, and all our Holiness. And