A77358:61
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. I will take but the Three ordinary lives that are in the world. The vegetative life, the life of Plants and Herbs. The Sensitive life, the life of Beasts. And the Rational life, the life of Man. And I will show ye, That the Essential properties of all these lives, are in a Spiritual way in the godly; and then the Argument will lie thus: If the Essential properties of all these lives be in a spiritual way in every godly man: then certainly, every godly, gracious man, is a living man, and in the state of life; living another life from the life of the world.
Answ. I will take but the Three ordinary lives that are in the world. The vegetative life, the life of Plants and Herbs. The Sensitive life, the life of Beasts. And the Rational life, the life of Man. And I wil shew ye, That the Essential properties of all these lives, are in a Spiritual way in the godly; and then the Argument will lie thus: If the Essential properties of all these lives be in a spiritual way in every godly man: then certainly, every godly, gracious man, is a living man, and in the state of life; living another life from the life of the world.
First. Take the life of plants and herbs, or of flowers, and what is the Essential property of the Vegetative life? It is to grow; no sooner hath a thing the Vegetative life, but it does grow. All plants, and herbs, and flowers, they grow, and trees they grow, because they have this Vegetative life. And so the Saints do, they grow in grace. It's said of them in the 84. Psalm, They go from strength to strength. It is an Hebraism, and it notes Augmentation; From, To, notes Augmentation. And the like Hebraisms ye have in the New-Testament. In Rom. 1.27. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, from faith to faith. It notes the augmentation of faith. And so in 2 Cor. 3. ult. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory. It notes an augmentation of glory. And so, They go from strength to strength. That is, they grow in strength; it notes, an augmentation of their strength. But suppose they do want the Means, and want the Ordinances, do they grow then? Yes. It is that which is said in the same Psalm; Though they walk through the valley of Baca, and be in a dry place, where no water is; yet they go on from strength to strength. And, we ALL with open face beholding as in a glass, the mirror of the Lord, are changed from glory to glory. Not some, but all; all believers, and all the godly, they do grow in grace. And this ye know, is the difference between a Painted child, and a Living child, Take a living child, and though he be but little, and very weak, yet he grows bigger. But now, a child that is painted