The Freeness of the Grace and Love of God, Title page – Poem
THE FREENESS OF THE GRACE and LOVE OF GOD TO BELIEVERS DISCOVERED.
In reference to
1. Their Services and Sufferings:
2. Their Conſolations, and
3. Their Salvation and Eternal Glory.
Together with
The Excellency of the fear of God.
The Goodneſs and Pleaſantneſs of Brotherly Love.
The Wiſdom of Hearing the Voice of the Rod.
Repentance the only way to prevent Judgements.
Delivered in ſeveral Sermons by the late Reverend and faithful Miniſter of Chriſt Mr. William Bridg, ſometime Preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth.
London, Printed for Nath. Crouch in Exchange-Alley over againſt the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1671.
The Reader is deſired before he begin, to correct theſe material faults, beſides ſome literal ones, which he is deſired to pardon.
IN pag. 9. & 10. and in ſeveral places, for Judicious, r. Judicial: p. 11. l. 10. blot out the door of: p. 18. l. 17. for Judicious, r. Judicial: p. 61. l. 1. for renewed, r. removed: p. 99. l. 19. r. humbled for the want of Faith: p. 114. l. 2. r. as he increaſeth in Godlineſs: p. 129. blot out the firſt line.
To the Reader.
THE Labours of this Reverend Author (now with God) both in Print and in Preaching, have already praiſed him in the Gate, and make his name and memory ſtill remain, and continue like a precious Oyntment, notwithſtanding the vain endeavours of ſome, to make both himſelf and Writings ridiculous: in which kind, though they may be abundantly repayed, ſince a late Author makes ſome on all ſides guilty of the like; yet there is cauſe to fear, (whatſoever innocent deſign may be pretended by thoſe Witty men) that Religion it ſelf may be contemned and ſlighted by ſuch Practices.
It is hoped that theſe Sermons will give no occaſion for ſuch Cavills, but that they may be of uſe to ſome perſons, to direct, and confirm them in the good old wayes of God, though they may want much of thoſe advantages, which it may be the Authors own hand would have beſtowed upon them. And upon that Account, the Reader is deſired not to be offended, though ſome things may not be ſo exact or plain as might be wiſhed, nor to impute it to the Author in the leaſt, but to look upon it only as the fault of the Tranſcriber, or Publiſher.
Yet hoping that notwithſtanding theſe diſadvantages, ſome may (through the bleſſing of God) reap profit and benefit by them, they are here publiſhed and ſubmitted to the Judgement of the Candid Reader.
J. O.
Upon the Death of Mr. William Bridg a faithful and painful Labourer in the Lords Vineyard.
EVen as a Lamp that ſpendeth liberally
It's Oyle, that we may do our work thereby:
Or as a ſparkling Star, which ſhineth bright,
Thereby directing Travellers by night:
Or as the Sun, that by his cheerful rayes
Diſperſeth darkneſs, and his beams diſplayes,
On the cold Earth, whereby he makes it ſpring
With fruitful crops, which joyfulneſs doth bring:
So Bridg diſpers'd his fruitful beams whilſt here,
But now he's fixed in a higher Sphere.
You that have skill, ſorrow and joy to blend;
Somewhat of both upon this Prophet ſpend.
Grieve for your loſs, and yet rejoyce in this
He's gone from trouble to a place of bliſs:
Mourn, that you did no more improve his pains;
And yet rejoyce, that he now reaps the gains.
Weep that ſo bright a Lamp no longer ſhin'd;
Yet joy in thoſe choice works he left behind.
Mourn that ſuch Lights do ſet, and when ye'ave done,
Joy that he's there, where needs not Moon nor Sun;
Which never ſhall be ſtained with a night;
But hath eternal Glory for its Light:
And let thoſe darkned intervalls you ſee,
Increaſe your longing in that place to be:
For here are changes; Prophets too muſt dye;
Yet let me that expreſſion molliſie.
If the Philoſopher of old could ſay,
All of me ſhall not dye; then ſure we may
Tranſcendently affirm of Bridg, that he
Yet lives, and ſhall live to Eternity:
He lives in Heaven, on Earth he doth the ſame:
There in his Soul, Here in his Works and Name.
And though his Body now be turn'd to Duſt;
Yet at the Reſurrection of the juſt,
Each Atom ſhall be gathered, ſo to raiſe
A glorious fabrick to his Maſters praiſe;
And Soul and Body jointly then ſhall ſing,
Grave where's thy Conqueſt, Death where is thy ſting?
And then in Triumph ſhall aſcend on high,
Having obtain'd through Chriſt, the Victory.