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…

Fourthly. The more truly any man does Repent, the more sensible he is of his own Unworthiness, and so the more Self-denying in Spiritual things. Ye know how it is with the Prodigal in the Parable, when he comes home, says he upon his return,¹ I will go unto my father, and I will say, I am not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants. In my fathers house there is bread, and I'll go home, and be contented to be one of my fathers, hired-servants. Before he went out, no Room in his fathers house was good enough for him; but now upon his return, any room in his fathers house is good enough. Before he went out, No Diet, no meat and drink in his fathers house would serve his turn, but away he goes: but now in his return, In my fathers house there is bread enough (saith he) And let me be as one of thy hired servants. Thus sensible of his own unworthiness, and with self denial. Why? because now Repentance had taken hold on his heart. Well, the more therefore a man does Repent, the more sensible he is of his own unworthiness, and the more he will deny himself in Spiritual things. But I pray what is it that does cause true Repentance? Is it the Gospel? or is it the ⟨p. 55⟩Law? Nay, not the Law, but the Gospel. Ye know what John said, ye know what our Saviour said, and ye know what the Apostle said (for they all preach the same things, the same words) Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. They do not say, Repent, for the kingdom of Hell is at hand; repent, or ye shall be damned: but, repent, for the kingdom of Grace, Mercy, and of Free-remission is at hand. So that it is the Gospel that does work Repentance, and therefore it is the Gospel, and the Gospel only, that does make a man sensible of his own unworthiness, and to deny himself in spiritual things.

Fourthly. The more truly any man does Repent, the more sensible he is of his own Unworthiness, and so the more Self-denying in Spiritual things. Ye know how it is with the Prodigal in the Parable, when he comes home, saies he upon his return,¹ I will go unto my father, and I will say, I am not worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants. In my fathers house there is bread, and I'le go home, and be contented to be one of my fathers, hired-servants. Before he went out, no Room in his fathers house was good enough for him; but now upon his return, any room in his fathers house is good enough. Before he went out, No Diet, no meat and drink in his fathers house would serve his turn, but away he goes: but now in his return, In my fathers house there is bread enough (saith he) And let me be as one of thy hired seruants. Thus sensible of his own unworthyness, and with self deniall. Why? because now Repentance had taken hold on his heart. Well, the more therefore a man does Repent, the more sensible he is of his own unworthyness, and the more he will deny himself in Spiritual things. But I pray what is it that does cause true Repentance? Is it the Gospel? or is it the