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…

Upon all this I do now appeal unto you, who ever you are that lie under any of these Fears, Hath it not been thus with you? That all on a sudden, you have been raised to these persuasions? Do not you find, That sometimes your soul hath been carried out to God, even contrary to your own inclination and disposition? Do not you find, That sometimes your soul hath been carried out to what is good, beyond all that you intended? you thought to begin Prayer a little while; and hath not the Lord sometimes come in, and carried out your soul farther than ever you intended? Do you not find, a secret disposition, or inclination to all the Commandments of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you not find, That in the greatest actions, and turnings of your lives, Christ hath been at the end thereof? Oh! yes, If I should speak true, I must needs say this; Although I have not seen Christ at the end of every action, yet as for the great actions, and turnings of my life, I must needs say, Christ hath been there. And the Lord knows, I have a secret disposition to the Commandments of the Gospel. And, O Lord, thou knowest, that I have been carried out, many times, to what is good, contrary to mine own disposition. O Lord, thou knowest, I have been carried further in a way of good, than ever I intended. O Lord, thou knowest, When my soul hath been dead, hardened, and I have said, Now mercy is gone, and I am driven from mercy; then, then hath there been persuasions raised in me, that Jesus Christ is in me. Well, be of good comfort (soul) be of good comfort from the Lord: if thou hast these persuasions, do not check them; and if for the present you have not these persuasions, yet wait on the Lord; for our Saviour Christ hath said,¹ I will send the Comforter; and in that day ye shall know, that I am in you, and you in me: and therefore wait upon Christ for that day.

Upon all this I do now appeal unto you, who ever you are that lie under any of these Fears, Hath it not been thus with you? That all on a sudden, you have been raised to these perswasions? Do not you find, That sometimes your soul hath been carried out to God, even contrary to your own inclination and disposition? Do not you find, That sometimes your soul hath been carried out to what is good, beyond all that you intended? you thought to begin Prayer a little while; and hath not the Lord sometimes come in, and carried out your soul farther than ever you intended? Do you not find, a secret disposition, or inclination to all the Commandements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you not find, That in the greatest actions, and turnings of your lives, Christ hath been at the end thereof? Oh! yes, If I should speak true, I must needs say this; Although I have not seen Christ at the end of every action, yet as for the great actions, and turnings of my life, I must needs say, Christ hath been there. And the Lord knows, I have a secret disposition to the Commandements of the Gospel. And, O Lord, thou knowest, that I have been carried out, many times, to what is good, contrary to mine own disposition. O Lord, thou knowest, I have been carried further in a way of good, than ever I intended. O Lord, thou knowest, When my soul hath been dead, hardened, and I have said, Now mercy is gone, and I am driven from mercy; then, then hath there been perswasions raised in me, that Jesus Christ is in me. Well, be of good comfort (soul) be of good comfort from the Lord: if thou hast these perswasions, do not check them; and if for the present you have not these perswasions, yet wait on the Lord; for our Savior Christ hath said,