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…

Answ. Yes, they are in themselves good, and they are good for something; but they are not good to make a man spiritually alive. If a man come and offer you a brass six-pence, or a brass shilling; and you say, No, it will not go: and if he reply and say to ye, But though it be brass, is it good for nothing? You will say, Yes, 'tis good for something, brass is good for something, but 'tis not good for money, it will not go for pay, it will not pay your debt, 'tis not sufficient to fetch you out of prison; it will not make you alive, 'tis not good for this. So now say I: Do ye ask whether these be good for nothing? I say, Yes, they are good, all moral virtues are in themselves good; but they are not good for to pay your debt, they are not good to make you alive, they can never make you spiritually alive; 'tis only grace, and union with Jesus Christ by the Spirit, that must make a man alive, Spiritually alive; and this only the Saints and people of God have; and therefore they only are the living men, every Child of God is a living man, and none else.

Answ. Yes, they are in themselves good, and they are good for somthing; but they are not good to make a man spiritually alive. If a man come and offer you a brass six-pence, or a brass shilling; and you say, No, it will not go: and if he reply and say to ye, But though it be brasse, is it good for nothing? You will say, Yes, 'tis good for somthing, brass is good for somthing, but 'tis not good for money, it will not go for pay, it will not pay your debt, 'tis not sufficient to fetch you out of prison; it will not make you alive, 'tis not good for this. So now say I: Do ye ask whether these be good for nothing? I say, Yes, they are good, all moral vertues are in themselves good; but they are not good for to pay your debt, they are not good to make you alive, they can never make you spiritually alive; 'tis only grace, and union with Jesus Christ by the Spirit, that must make a man alive, Spiritually alive; and this only the Saints and people of God have; and therefore they only are the living men, every Child of God is a living man, and none else.

Applyca. If this be so: What abundance of comfort is here, unto all the Saints and people of God! He only lives, (comparatively) that lives this spiritual life; the Saints and people of God they are alive. Doest thou therefore believe? art