A77358:385
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…
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volume. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. Faith does commend Christ above all the other, and therefore Christ will commend Faith above all other Duties or Graces. Faith honours Christ, and Christ will honour Faith. It is faith that gives a Being to, and is the root of all other graces. He commends that: It is only faith that brings Christ and the soul together; and therefore he does commend faith above all other graces.
Answ. Faith does commend Christ above all the other, and therefore Christ will commend Faith above all other Duties or Graces. Faith honors Christ, and Christ will honor Faith. It is faith that gives a Being to, and is the root of all other graces. He commends that: It is only faith that brings Christ and the soul together; and therefore he does commend faith above all other graces.
If the Lord Jesus Christ does commend faith so, why should we not all labour especially to strengthen our faith. Get faith, you that have it not, & strengthen it, you that have it. Get Humility, Patience, Wisdom; be much in Prayer, and continue in Prayer; but above all things get Faith: Faith is the grace commended by Jesus Christ above all other graces; therefore we should labour above all for to get faith, and to strengthen faith. It is observed from this place, that Christ commends none but the Gentiles, the faith of the Gentiles: He says concerning the Centurion, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel: he was a Gentile. And here he says concerning this women, O woman, great is thy faith: and she was a Gentile. What ever therefore thou hast been; though a Canaanite, though a Sinner, though a great Sinner; get faith, labour to strengthen ⟨p. 211⟩then thy faith, and the Lord Jesus Christ will own thy faith at the last: though for the present he seems to hide himself from thee, yet he will own it at the last, and he will commend it at the last.
If the Lord Jesus Christ does commend faith so, why should we not all labor especially to strengthen our faith. Get faith, you that have it not, & strengthen it, you that have it. Get Humility, Patience, Wisdom; be much in Prayer, and continue in Prayer; but above all things get Faith: Faith is the grace commended by Jesus Christ above all other graces; therefore we should labor above all for to get faith, and to strengthen faith. It is observed from this place, that Christ commends none but the Gentiles, the faith of the Gentiles: He saies concerning the Centurion, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel: he was a Gentile. And here he saies concerning this women, O woman, great is thy faith: and she was a Gentile. What ever therefore thou hast been; though a Canaanite, though a Sinner, though a great Sinner; get faith, labor to strengthen