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…

Only here, I remember the story of Anselm, walking abroad in the fields, he saw a Shepherds boy that had taken a bird; and having tied a stone unto the leg of the bird, the bird offered to fly, and mount up, but still the stone at her heel pulled the bird back again: Whereupon Anselm falls a weeping; Thus (saith he with himself) it is with men, they sometimes offer to mount up to God in good purposes, but then they have some earthly business at their heel, and that makes them fall down again: they purpose, and purpose; and offer, and offer to mount up to God; but there's a stone ⟨p. 20⟩at the heel, some earthly business at the heel, and so they fall down to the earth again. So if it be with you now, if you have a stone at your heel, a Calling at your heel, an Employment at your heel, an earthly business at your heel; yet if every day you are mourning, and lamenting over it, and saying, Oh! what a clog have I at my heel! what a stone have I at my heel! Oh! Lord, when shall I come to Heaven, that I may be freed from this clog at my heel? I say, if you mourn, and lament over this clog that you have at your heel, it rather argues, that you are alive than dead; and therefore take in all the comfort that hath been spoken concerning this Truth; The Saints and people of God, are in a most comfortable state upon this account.

Only here, I remember the story of Anselme, walking abroad in the fields, he saw a Shepherds boy that had taken a bird; and having tied a stone unto the leg of the bird, the bird offered to fly, and mount up, but still the stone at her heel pul'd the bird back again: Whereupon Anselme fals a weeping; Thus (saith he with himself) it is with men, they somtimes offer to mount up to God in good purposes, but then they have some earthly business at their heel, and that makes them fall down again: they purpose, and purpose; and offer, and offer to mount up to God; but there's a stone ⟨p. 20⟩at the heel, some earthly business at the heel, and so they fall down to the earth again. So if it be with you now, if you have a stone at your heel, a Calling at your heel, an Imployment at your heel, an earthly business at your heel; yet if every day you are mourning, and lamenting over it, and saying, Oh! what a clog have I at my heel! what a stone have I at my heel! Oh! Lord, when shall I come to Heaven, that I may be freed from this clog at my heel? I say, if you mourn, and lament over this clog that you have at your heel, it rather argues, that you are alive than dead; and therefore take in al the comfort that hath been spoken concerning this Truth; The Saints and people of God, are in a most comfortable state upon this account.