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…

Again, Are there not some among us, that when they have been at Duty in the company of others, have strange ⟨p. 66⟩repetitions pass upon their hearts? When you pray all alone, you have no such repetitions; but when you have prayed, or been Exercising in a Company; doth not your heart run back sometimes, and say; Thus and thus I said, and this and this I did, and this Expression I had? Hath there not been strange kind of repetitions, after you have performed Duty in Company? Is not here Self? is not here the I?

Again, Are there not some among us, that when they have been at Duty in the company of others, have strange ⟨p. 66⟩repetitions passe upon their hearts? When you pray all alone, you have no such repetitions; but when you have prayed, or been Exercising in a Company; doth not your heart run back sometimes, and say; Thus and thus I said, and this and this I did, and this Expression I had? Hath there not been strange kind of repetitions, after you have performed Duty in Company? Is not here Self? is not here the I?

Again, Are there not some, that never to this day, were sensible of their Pride in spiritual things? Now I dare boldly say unto thee from the Lord, Thou hast not yet learned this lesson of Self-Denial in spiritual things, that wert never Humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things. I repeat it again, I say, If thou wert never humbled for thy Pride in spiritual things to this day, the Lord knows, thou hast not learned this great lesson of Self-Denial in spiritual things. I say no more by way of Convincement; Only this: There is nothing that a Professor is more apt to be proud of, than spiritual things. Before a man takes up a Profession; possibly then he is proud of his Clothes; or he is proud of his Friends; or he is proud of his fine House and the like. But after once a man comes to take up a Profession, there is nothing that he is more apt to be proud of than his Gifts, Graces, and Spiritual things. For, look where a mans Excellency lies, there his Pride grows. Now the Excellency of a Professor lies in spiritual things; and therefore there his Pride grows, and there he is most apt to be proud. Yet let me tell ye, It is a more dangerous thing to be proud of a mans Duties, and Spiritual Gifts; then to be proud of Clothes, then to be proud of these outward things; For this pride of Spiritual Gifts, it's directly opposite to a mans Justification. And the more secret & hidden any sin is, the more dangerous it is: and when sin & Pride lies under Duties, and Spiritual things, then it is hidden indeed. The more Bold a sin is, the greater it is; When a sin shall dare to come into the presence of God, then it is bold indeed: Now pride in spiritual things comes