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…

First. The more you deny your self in Spiritual things, the more you shall be sure to keep them. Says Chrysostom, The best treasury to keep any good work in, is, forgetfulness of that good work. Ye know, that if a man be to travel; the way to keep himself and his money is, not to go to the Market-Cross, and there proclaim that he hath so much money about ⟨p. 69⟩him, or to carry with him in his journey; the only way for a man to lose his money, is, to let it be known, and to brag of it abroad. And truly, what is the reason, that so many in these days of ours, have made shipwreck? Some heretofore have been very forward, had great Gifts, great Parts; and now they are rotten, they have lost all; Why? because they were proud of them, and did not walk humbly under them.

First. The more you deny your self in Spiritual things, the more you shall be sure to keep them. Saies Chrysostome, The best treasury to keep any good work in, is, forgetfulness of that good work. Ye know, that if a man be to travel; the way to keep himself and his money is, not to go to the Market-Crosse, and there proclaim that he hath so much money about ⟨p. 69⟩him, or to carry with him in his journey; the only way for a man to lose his money, is, to let it be known, and to brag of it abroad. And truly, what is the reason, that so many in these daies of ours, have made shipwrack? Some heretofore have been very forward, had great Gifts, great Parts; and now they are rotten, they have lost all; Why? because they were proud of them, and did not walk humbly under them.

Secondly. The more you do deny your selves in spiritual things, the more humble you will be in other things: and the more humble you are, the more sweetly shall you live in your own bosom, yea, towards and amongst others. Some possibly complain of a Froward spirit: Oh! says one, I am of an Angry disposition: my Husband, my Children, my Servants, my Wife, or my Friends, cannot meddle with me, or touch me, but I am ready to break out in distemper, anger, and frowardness; the Lord knows, I have a very froward and peevish heart of mine own. But what is the reason? Pride, pride is the cause of Frowardness. Ye see how it is with a Bladder: let a Bladder be blown full of wind, and though you may take it at the end, yet notwithstanding, you cannot hold the Bladder in your hand, or the greatest hand in the town cannot hold the Bladder. But take a pin, and prick the bladder, and the least child may hold it then. What is the reason that men cannot be held, cannot be handled, cannot be touched by their neighbours, friends, and those that are about them; they cannot be grasped, and walked with? but because they are proud, and swoln. Therefore, get an humble, and self-denying heart, and thou shalt walk more sweetly with thy own soul, and others that are about thee.