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…

Thirdly. Take now the Third life, the life of Reason, the Rational life, the life of Man: And what is the Essential Property of that life? It is, To understand, to know, & to reflect upon a mans own actions, whether they be Good or Evil. A Beast does many actions: but a Beast hath not power to reflect upon his own action, to consider whether it be Good or Evil, when he hath done the action. Herein a man is distinct from a Beast. A Beast understands not, knows not, is not able to reflect upon his own action, and to consider whether it be good or evil when he hath done it. But now a Man that hath this Rational life is; and the more of man in a Man, the more he is able to reflect upon his own action. ⟨p. 8⟩Look I pray into the 46. Chapter of Isaiah, and there ye shall find this to be the Essential property of a Man: at the 8. verse, Remember this, and show your selves men. Wherein? bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Reflect upon your own action, and consider what ye have done, and thus ye will show your selves to be men, to have the life of men in you. And upon this account, when as the Prodigal bethought himself, then he is said to return unto himself. Now every godly, gracious man hath this power, to reflect upon his own action. And therefore converting Ephraim is brought in thus,¹ Smiting himself upon his thigh, saying, Oh! what have I done? And in that of the Epistle to the Corinthians, it is said, Know ye not, how that Christ is in you, unless ye be reprobates. That is, unless ye be Reprobates, ye may know that Christ is in you. A Reprobate indeed, does not reflect upon his own action; but as a beast he goes on: he Prays, (may be) and does not reflect upon his Prayer when he hath done: He Hears the Word, and does not reflect upon his Hearing when he hath done: he Sins against God, and does not reflect upon his own action, and Sin, smiting himself upon his thigh, saying, Oh! what have I done? But now, every godly, gracious man does thus reflect upon his own action, and is able to do it. So then, take the Argument in the whole, and it lies thus: If a godly, gracious man, have all the Essential Properties of those Three lives, in a spiritual way and manner; then certainly he is in the state of life, and does live a spiritual life.

Thirdly. Take now the Third life, the life of Reason, the Rational life, the life of Man: And what is the Essential Property of that life? It is, To understand, to know, & to reflect upon a mans own actions, whether they be Good or Evil. A Beast does many actions: but a Beast hath not power to reflect upon his own action, to consider whether it be Good or Evil, when he hath done the action. Herein a man is distinct from a Beast. A Beast understands not, knows not, is not able to reflect upon his own action, and to consider whether it be good or evil when he hath done it. But now a Man that hath this Rational life is; and the more of man in a Man, the more he is able to reflect upon his own action.