A77358:389
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.
And upon this account, How many are there that have strong faith, that think they have no faith at all. Some think they have no faith, because they cannot say, Christ is mine, Mercy is mine, Heaven is mine: but yet, if in the time of your temptation ye can hand upon Christ, and will not away from Christ, but will still hang upon him, still wait upon him; you have not only faith, but you may have strong faith, a great faith as this woman had. And let me tell you this for your comfort: at the last the Lord will make a report of your faith unto your own heart: Yea, he will make a report answerable to your temptation: for you may observe here, That as the wound ⟨p. 200⟩was made, so the plaster was laid. You have Three great temptations: Answerably now, the Lord Jesus Christ does testify of this woman. First of all, He answered her not a word, would not own her, would not speak to her: Now (says he) O woman. Then he said, That he was not sent, but unto the lost sheep. Now he does own her for a Sheep, and he says she hath Faith. Before he says, It is not meet to cast children's bread to dogs. This did argue that she was a Dog, one most Unworthy. Now he says, that she is most Worthy; O woman, thou hast not only faith, but thou hast a great faith, O woman, great is thy faith. So that I say, still hang upon Christ; in all your Temptations, in the midst of all your Discouragements, still hang upon Christ; and the Lord Jesus, he will not only make a report of your faith unto ye, but according as your temptations rise, so shall the report of your grace be from the Lord Christ unto your poor soul: therefore hang upon Christ.
And upon this account, How many are there that have strong faith, that think they have no faith at all. Some think they have no faith, because they cannot say, Christ is mine, Mercy is mine, Heaven is mine: but yet, if in the time of your temptation ye can hand upon Christ, and will not away from Christ, but will still hang upon him, still wait upon him; you have not only faith, but you may have strong faith, a great faith as this woman had. And let me tell you this for your comfort: at the last the Lord will make a report of your faith unto your own heart: Yea, he will make a report answerable to your temptation: for you may observe here, That as the wound ⟨p. 200⟩was made, so the plaister was laid. You have Three great temptations: Answerably now, the Lord Jesus Christ does testifie of this womon. First of all, He answered her not a word, would not own her, would not speak to her: Now (saies he) O woman. Then he said, That he was not sent, but unto the lost sheep. Now he does own her for a Sheep, and he saies she hath Faith. Before he saies, It is not meet to cast childrens bread to dogs. This did argue that she was a Dog, one most Unworthy. Now he saies, that she is most Worthy; O woman, thou hast not only faith, but thou hast a great faith, O woman, great is thy faith. So that I say, still hang upon Christ; in all your Temptations, in the midst of all your Discouragments, still hang upon Christ; and the Lord Jesus, he will not only make a report of your faith unto ye, but according as your temptations rise, so shall the report of your grace be from the Lord Christ unto your poor soul: therefore hang upon Christ.