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. Though every true Believer, be an Humble, Self-Denying person, and is made partaker of this Gospel-Self-Denial: yet know, there is something of Self, some remains of Self that still continues with the best, something still that will taste of the Cask. Though the Onion that is beaten in the mortar, be taken out of the mortar, yet the mortar will smell of it. A godly, gracious man, is sensible of his own Pride, and Self-Advancing in spiritual things, and will cry out and say, Oh! what a Proud heart have I! a Self-Advancing heart have I! But show me that man, that was ever so transformed, melted, changed into the mould of the Gospel; but still some savour of Self remains.

Answ. Though every true Beleever, be an Humble, Self-Denying person, and is made partaker of this Gospel-Self-Denial: yet know, there is something of Self, some remains of Self that still continues with the best, something still that will tast of the Cask. Though the Onion that is beaten in the morter, be taken out of the morter, yet the morter will smell of it. A godly, gracious man, is sensible of his own Pride, and Self-Advancing in spiritual things, and will cry out and say, Oh! what a Proud heart have I! a Self-Advancing heart have I! But shew me that man, that was ever so transformed, melted, changed into the mould of the Gospel; but still some savor of Self remains.

Whereas you say, That some are willing, and contented to go to Hell if God would have it so. I have heard it of some; yea, and that some Ministers have put people upon this trial, as thus: Art thou contented to go to Hell if God would have it so? I say, I have heard, that even some Ministers have put people upon such a trial as this is. But where is their Commission? where hath any Minister such a Commission from the Lord, to put poor people upon such a ⟨p. 68⟩trial as this is; Soul! art thou contented to go to Hell if God would have it so? Let any Minister show me his Commission to put a soul upon such a trial as this is. And where Soul! hast thou a Commission to put thy self upon such a trial? No, we may have an eye to the recompense of reward; the Lord Christ himself had so, he had an eye himself unto the recompense of reward: and therefore, though thou canst not bring thy soul unto this height, yet there may be some Humility, even Gospel Self-denial, that may lie under the leaf. This Gospel Humility, and Self-denial, it is (as I may so speak) the souls Violet: The Violet (ye know) it is a very sweet flower; but it lies very low, it hangs down its head, and it lies under other herbs, obscure herbs; as if it loved to be unseen; but it smells very sweetly: and if you would find out this sweet-smelling herb, and violet, you must lift up other obscure leaves, and there you shall see it. So, this Humility, and Self-denial, it lies under other Duties, and under other Exercises; and if you would see it, you must lift up other leaves: though thou beest not able to attain to that height as to say, Thou wouldst be contented to go to Hell if God would have it so: yet thou mayest have this sweet Violet; though it lie under other herbs, yet thou mayest see it, and it may be smelt. Only this: If at any time Self breaks out; if at any time thy soul begins to be advanced in regard of Duty, or Spiritual things; I do here call upon you, fall down before the Lord, and humble thy self before him for the pride of thy heart concerning Spiritual things, and labour to get this Self-denial in spiritual things. I am not to speak of Self-Denial at large; but I call upon you from the Lord, to labour to get Self-denial in spiritual things. And take these Two of Three Motives to it.