A77358:81
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.
Object. I am afraid that I have not this Spiritual life; for my heart is Dead, and Cold, and Stiff: and dead men, they are Cold and Stiff, very Stiff: and truly so 'tis with me; My heart is Cold, and Dead, and Stiff, and therefore I fear I am free among the Dead, and not free among the Living.
Object. I am affraid that I have not this Spiritual life; for my heart is Dead, and Cold, and Stiffe: and dead men, they are Cold and Stiffe, very Stiffe: and truly so 'tis with me; My heart is Cold, and Dead, and Stiffe, and therfore I fear I am free among the Dead, and not free among the Living.
Answ. Have ye not heard, That there is a deadness which is opposite to Liveliness, aswell as a death that is opposite to Life? And were thine heart dead, with a death opposite to Life, thou couldst not feel it. And I appeal to thee; If that thy soul be alive in opposition to death; hast thou not more cause to be thankful, that thy soul is alive in opposition to death, than to be discouraged, that thy soul is dead in opposition to Liveliness?
Answ. Have ye not heard, That there is a deadness which is opposite to Liveliness, aswel as a death that is opposit to Life? And were thine heart dead, with a death opposite to Life, thou couldst not feel it. And I appeal to thee; If that thy soul be alive in opposition to death; hast thou not more cause to be thankful, that thy soul is alive in oppofition to death, than to be discouraged, that thy soul is dead in opposition to Liveliness?
But there is a difference (ye know) between the coldness of a Living man, and the coldness of a Dead man. Take a dead man, and if he be cold, 'tis not all your fires will put warmth into him, or your Aqua-vitae, or your chafing and rubbing of him, or your warm beds that will make him warm. But now, take a man that is cold, and Living; and if ye chafe him, or bring him to the fire, or lay him in a good warm bed; he recovers his warmth again. And so 'tis with a godly heart, though cold, yet bring it unto the Ordinance, either Publicly, or Privately, and it recovers its warmth again: and hath it not been even so with some of you?