Eight Sermons, Illustration – Errata
EFFIGIES GVILIELMI BRIDG ME
Obiit 1670 Phillip Hobnesſculp
BRIDGE'S REMAINS, BEING VIII SERMONS.
Viz.
1. Of Mans Bleſſedneſs.
2. Affections rightly placed.
3. How to walk with God in our Calling?
4. Of good and bad Company.
5. The Carnality of Profeſſors.
6. What our Work is, and how to be done?
7. Soul reſignation into the hands of God.
8. The Dignity and Duty of Gods called ones.
By that Learned and Judicious Divine Mr. William Bridge, ſometimes Fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and late Preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth.
Deſigned by himſelf for the Preſs, as appears by the Marginal Notes, except the Eighth Sermon, which was the laſt that he Preached, was taken exactly in Short-hand, and Publiſhed by his Son-in-law, after they were peruſed by Mr. Greenhill.
London, Printed, and are to be ſold by John Hancock Senior and Junior, at the Sign of the Three Bibles in Popes head Alley in Cornhill, 1673.
A TABLE of the Contents, with a brief Collection of the principal Heads in the enſuing Sermons.
1 Sermon on
Pſal. 4.6. Many there be that ſay, Who will ſhew us any good? Lord lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us.
Doct. A Gracious man doth count himſelf fully happy in the enjoyment of God, and the Light of his Countenance. Page 2.
The chief Particulars to be handled propoſed. P, 3,
1. There is a diſpoſition in men to ſeek after happineſs.
2. Men generally are miſtaken in the matter of their happineſs, placing it in ſtrength, health, beauty, riches, honour, power, pleaſure, knowledge, Moral virtues, with the reaſons of this miſtake.
1. Ignorance of the right and true notion of happineſs
2. Miſapplication of the true notion of happineſs.
3. Mens meaſuring their happineſs by their own preſent want.
4. Becauſe men conſider not what is ſpoken to them about true happineſs.
3. There are a generation of men who have found out this happineſs. P. 12.
4. True happineſs doth conſiſt in the light of Gods Countenance. P. 14.
5. A man may know that God hath lifted up the light of his Countenance on him. P. 16.
1. If God hath bleſſed him.
2. If taught of God.
3. If it hath out-ſhone our own lights.
4. If ſatisfied with it, and deſirous of its increaſe.
5. If it hath diſpelled doubts and fears.
6. If enabled to act eminently for God.
7. If much afflicted for the want of it.
8. If inflamed with love to Christ on that account.
6 What ſhall I do that the face of God may ſhine upon me. P. 20.
1. Be ſure you take heed of all ſin.
2. Be upright in the deſiring of it.
3. Be ſure you ſtand where God ſhines.
4. Walk wiſely and humbly towards God in the time of his abſence.
5. Beware of Covetouſneſs.
6. Improve mens frowns, and wait for Gods ſhining.
7. Be ſure that you do not look awry upon any that are Chriſts.
8. Live in quiet reſignation of your ſelf to God.
9. Pray much for the ſhine of his face upon your Soul.
2 Sermon on
Col. 3.2. Set your affections on things above.
Doct. It is the duty of all the Saints to ſet their affections on things above. P. 26.
Explication. 1. What theſe affections are?
1. Motions of the reaſonable Soul.
2. Motions of the Soul ſenſibly carried out upon what is good or evil.
3. So as to embrace or refuſe the ſame.
2. Whether we may not at all affect the things of this life?
Anſ. Yes, But,
1. Not for themſelves, but in ſubordination to God.
2. In Compariſon to Spiritual and Heavenly things your affections to theſe things, is to be no affection
3. Why are we to ſet our affections on things above?
1. If you do not, you are no fit match for Chriſt.
2. You will never own him, unleſs you ſet your affections on him.
3. If your affections be not ſet upon things above, they will never be drawn off from things beneath.
4. If you do not, you will never preſs much after the knowledge and obtainment of them.
5. If your affections be not thus ſet, you will never be zealous for God.
6. If they be not thus ſet, you will never do any great thing for God.
7. If they be not thus ſet, you can never pleaſe God in any thing you do for God.
Application Uſe 1. It is an evil thing to ſet affections on things below, and not on things above. P. 33.
1. It is hard and difficult to ſet our affections on things above.
2. It is one thing to affect things above, and another thing to ſet affections on them.
3. Many are deceived herein: For,
1. If they did, they would not be ſo indifferent in the things of God.
2, They would carry theſe things about with them in their minds and thoughts.
3. They would ſeek them in the firſt place,
4. They would be ſpeaking of them, and love to hear others ſpeak of them.
5. They would be more tender of the name of God and Spiritual things.
6. They would clear an Evidence of an Interest in them.
4. If affections are ſet on things above, P. 38.
1. Your portion is accordingly.
2. You may know that you have an Intereſt in Chriſt.
3. It will most relieve you in the day of diſtreſs.
4. Then you will neither looſe affections, nor the thing affected.
5. Theſe affections will make the ways of God eaſie.
6. Then the jealouſie of God will not be raiſed againſt you.
5 What ſhall we do to raiſe affections to things above. P. Ibid.
1. Get a new Heart.
2. Get knowledge of things above.
3. Put your ſelves under the moſt wooing diſcocovery of Gods love.
4. Improve ſenſible diſpenſations of afflictions and enjoyments.
5. Be much in Meditation.
6. In caſe affections are unſteady.
1. Take as much pains to keep them up as to raiſe them.
2. Stir up the grace of God that is in you.
3. Make uſe of the variety of Gods ways he hath given you.
4. Study Gods Word and Works.
5. Labour more and more to refine affections to things that are good
3 Sermon on
1 Cor 7.24. Brethren, Let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God. P. 46.
Doct. It is the duty of every man to abide or walk with God in his calling. P. 47.
The chief particulars to be handled, propoſed,
1. A good Calling is a great mercy. P. 48.
1. It was the condition of Adam in the ſtate of Innocency.
2. Thereby a man is kept from idleneſs.
3 From buſie medling with others m…tters.
4. A lawful calling is Gods ground.
2. A man having an honeſt calling is to abide therein. 51
1. There is in us an aptneſs to change or lay down our Callings.
2. It is not abſolutely unlawful for a man to change his Calling.
1. In caſe a man is qualified for higher imployments.
2. If he ſee the hand of God leading him out of his Calling.
3. If the Porter that ſtands at the door o… a mans Calling let him out.
4. A man may be forced to change his Calling through want.
3. Ordinarily a man is to abide in his Calling. P. 53.
1. Becauſe a good Calling is Gods gift.
2. There is no Calling but God may be ſerved and enjoyed therein.
4 Objections anſwered. P. 54
3. It is our duty to walk with God in our Calling.
1. It was ſo from the beginning.
2. Elſe he cannot walk with God at all.
3. Thereby a man is diſtinguiſhed from the men of the world
4. This will ſweeten your Callings.
5. Every man is as he is in his Calling.
4. What ſhould a man do that he may walk with God in his Calling. P. 60.
1. Negatively.
1. You muſt not be ignorant of the way of your Calling.
2. You muſt not be negligent in your place and Calling.
3. You muſt not deal unjuſtly in your dealings with men.
4. You muſt not be too familiar with your Calling.
2. Affirmatively.
1. Obſerve what thoſe ſnares and temptations are that are incident to your Calling.
2, Live by Faith in your Calling.
3. Whatever you do therein do all to the Glory of God
4. Joyn your particular and general Calling together
5. Comply with Gods diſpenſations in the way of your Calling.
6. Judge of things in your Calling as God judgeth.
7. Spiritualize your particular Calling with Heavenly things.
3. Motives.
1. If we walk with God in our particular Calling. he will walk with us in our general Calling.
2. Then ſhall our Calling be a bleſſing to us.
3. Then the way of our Calling ſhall be made eaſie.
4. Thereby we ſhall be kept from the ſins and temptations of our Calling.
5. Thereby our way of godlineſs ſhall be made convincing and winning.
6. Thereby you ſhall be fit to die and leave all the world with eaſe.
4 Sermon on
Pſal 119.63. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. P. 70.
1. General head, what this good Company is. P. 72.
1 It is not that the world calls good Company.
2. Nor that a mans own engagements calls good Company.
2. General, why, and upon what account a good man will keep good Company.
1. From the benefit of good Company.
1. It is a help againſt falling into evil.
2. It will ſtir you up to what is good.
3. It is a means of recovering from ſins and temptations.
4. It will help you out of outward troubles.
5. It is a continual bleſſing.
2. From the miſchief of bad Company.
1. It will cool and quench you to what is good.
2. It will infect you with what is evil.
3. Their fellowſhip draws you into the Communion of Satan.
4. It will fit us for Communion with Satan and his Members for ever.
5. For the preſent you will get by ill Company a reproch and blot,
III. General Objections anſwered. P. 87.
Application 1. It is ill for a wicked man to keep evil Company. P. 99.
2. It is worſe for a Profeſſor of the Goſpel.
3. It is worſe for a member of a Church.
Objections anſwered. P. 94.
Queſt 1. What ſhall we do to avoid evil Company? P. 99
1. Mortifie your affections to the vanity thereof.
2. Avoid all thoſe occaſions that open a door to evil Company.
3. Part abruptly with them.
4. Be humbled for the vanity of Company-keeping
5. Do'nt follow the Saints for their multitude.
6. Keep good Company and improve them.
Queſt. 2, How ſhall I be able to chuſe my Company? P. 103.
1. Beſeech God to chuſe your Company for you.
2. Get your nature changed.
3. Get a diſcerning Spirit.
4. Obſerve who are moſt profitable in your Society.
5. Let the friend of your boſom be a man, and not a woman.
Queſt. 3. What ſhall I do that I may improve my Campany. P. 105.
1. Be humbled for all your miſpence of time with good Company.
2. Improve good Company to right ends.
3. Draw forth that grace your Companion excels in.
4. Take heed of pride and envy.
5. Pray over them and for them.
6. Do not reſt ſecure in good Company.
7. Conſider what a Talent good Company is when you are betruſted with it.
5 Sermon on
1 Cor. 3.3. For ye are Carnal. P. 111.
Queſt. 1. How it may appear that great Profeſſors may appear very Carnal. P. 113.
1. When great Profeſſors have their Judgments defiled with corrupt opinions.
2. The levity and lightneſs of great Profeſſors in the waies of the Goſpel is a ſign of their Carnality.
3. When they do not keep a difference between them, and the men of the world.
4. VVhen there are envyings, wranglings, ſtrifes and diviſions amongſt them.
5. VVhen Profeſſors can neither give reproof without anger, or take reproof without distaſt.
6. VVhen they uſe Carnal Engines to obtain their deſigns.
7. VVhen they are ſelfiſh in ſeeking their own particular intereſt.
Queſt. 2. How far may this Carnality of Profeſſors reach and extend. P. 119.
Anſw. It may extend over all our life and converſation, 1. Our thought. 2. Affections. 3. Words. 4, Condition of life. 5. Reformation. 6. Duties. 7. Communion with God. 8. Coming to Chriſt.
Queſt. 3. VVhat difference is there then between the Carnality of the world, and Profeſſors? P. 121.
Anſw. 1. Much, if Profeſſors are godly, for all Profeſſors are not godly.
2. There's an appearance of grace and goodneſs intermixt with their Carnality.
3 They do not ſowe to the Fleſh.
4 They do not take up a prejudice againſt the whole way and power of godlineſs.
5. Their Carnality doth not bear the ſway and rule of their life.
6. Their practical Concluſions are not Carnal.
7. They are much humbled for it.
Queſt. 4. Wherein the evil of it doth appear? P. 125.
1. In that they walk contrary to their Profeſſion.
2. Thereby they make themſelves unfit to do good, and receive good.
3. Thereby they will be apt to give and take offence.
4. Thereby they may diſhonour God more by their Carnality, then they can honour him by their goodneſs.
5. Thereby they are expoſed to Temptations.
6. Thereby they will looſe the ſweetneſs of their Chriſtian Communion.
7. Thereby they hinder their progreſs in the ways of God.
Queſt. 5. What then is our Duty? P. 129.
1. Not to ſtumble or be offended at the ways of God, becauſe of the Carnality of Profeſſors.
2. Take heed of their Carnality.
Queſt. 6. What ſhall we do herein? P. 131.
1. Be humbled for it.
2. Look well to your beginnings of profeſsion.
3. Go over your work of profeſsion again & refine it.
4. Pray much for the pourings forth of the Spirit upon you.
5. Take heed of a ſelfiſh Spirit in matters of Religion
6. Watch moſt when you meddle with Carnal things
7. Take heed of converſing with Carnal Company.
8. Examine your ways often whether they be Spiritual or Carnal.
9. Conſider the only way to looſe a mercy is to be Carnal in it.
6 Sermon on
Eccleſ. 9.10. Whatſoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, &c. P. 135
Obſer. It is our duty to do that work with all our might, which is in the power of our hand to do. P. 136
Explication 1. What doth this Phraſe import? Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it. P. 136.
1, It implyes Authority or Commiſsion.
2, An ability.
3. Opportunity and occaſion.
Queſt. 2. When may a man be ſaid to do the work of God with all his might? P. 138.
1. When he doth it with all his Soul, in oppoſition to Heart-diviſion.
2. With all his underſtanding in oppoſition to unskilfulneſs.
3. With all his affections in oppoſition to lukewarmneſs, and remiſneſs.
4. With all his ability in oppoſition to all reſerves.
5. With diligence and induſtry in oppoſition to ſloth and negligence.
Queſt. 3. Why muſt we do Gods work with all our might? P. 140.
1. It is Gods will we ſhould do ſo.
2. It is a rational thing we ſhould do ſo.
3. It is a dangerous thing not to do it.
Cautions. P. 155.
1. Though you muſt do Gods work with all your might, yet your moderation must be known unto all men.
2. Yet you muſt not look on the ſucceſs of your work, as the fruit of your hand, but of Gods hand.
Application, Queſt. How ſhall I be able to do the work which God hath put into my hand? P. 147.
1. You muſt know what that work is.
1, Look what that work is which is the work of the day.
2, Which is the work of your Place, Calling, or Relation.
3. Which is directly contrary to that ſin in which You have notoriouſly lived.
4. Which you are ſpared or raiſed up for eithe… from poverty or ſickneſs.
5. Which you have ſpecial ability and opportunit… to do above others.
2. You must obſerve where your true ſtrength lies.
3. Take heed you do not think the way to Heaven i… eaſie.
4. Let your Eye he much upon them who have don… Gods work fully,
5. Converſe much with the greatneſs of God.
6. Be ſure you lay in againſt reproches.
7. Go to God to open your hand.
Motives 1. Whatever work is in the power of your hand to do that God will require at your hand. P. 156.
2. You do not know how ſoon he may take your work out of your hands.
3. The doing Gods work with all your might will be your comfort in the time of your death-bed-ſickneſs
4. It will make you rejoyce with all your heart in the bleſſings you have in your hand.
7 Sermon on
Luke 23.46. Father into thy hands, I commend my Spirit. P. 161.
Explication. Into thy hands, that is, into thy charge, care and tuition.
Queſt. Why Chriſt did at this time eſpecially commend and reſign himſelf and ſoul vntounto God. P. 162
1. Thereby he testified that he had not loſt his confidence in God as a father.
2. Thereby he did commend the Souls of all thoſe he died for into the hands of God.
3. Thereby he became an example unto us.
Doctrine. It is a good thing for us to reſign our Souls into the hands of God, eſpecially at the time of our death. P. 163.
1, It is Gods due and our duty.
2. It is a very profitable thing for us to do it.
3. Elſe we muſt be reſponſable for them our ſelves
Queſt. 1. What benefit ſhall we get thereby? P. 166.
1. It is an inlet to many mercies.
1. What greater bleſſing can there be in this World then to enjoy ones ſelf under God.
2. What greater bleſsing is there in this world, or in the world to come, then to enjoy God.
3. It is a great mercy and bleſsing to have your Prayers granted.
2. It is an in-let unto many graces and duties.
1. It opens the ſluices of Prayer,
2. The more you truſt to God in faith.
3. Thereby you ſhall be contented with your condition, whatever it be.
4. Thereby you will rejoyce in God, and mourn for ſin at once.
5. Thereby you'l be able to anſwer your temptations.
3, It is an inlet unto many comforts.
Queſt. How is this work to be done? P. 171:
1. Not ſlightly and overly, but ſeriouſly & ſolemnly
2. Not forcedly and laſtly, but freely and firſtly.
3 Not partially and by halves, but fully & totally
4, It muſt not be done conditionally, but abſolutely.
5. Not paſsively and in a way of ſubmiſsion only, but actively,
6. Not deceitfully and feignedly, but in all plainneſs and ſincerity.
7. Not ſinfull, but in well-doing.
Queſt. 3. When is this work to be done? P. 175.
1. This Work is to be done daily.
2. There are ſome ſpecial times and ſeaſons which do call for this work.
1. When a man doth convert and turn to God.
2, VVhen called forth unto any great work, ſervice and imployment.
3. VVhen in any great diſtreſs or affliction.
4. VVhen a man doth joyn himſelf to the Lord and his people.
5. VVhen a man hath ſinned greatly and wandered from the Lord.
3. And most eſpecially, when we come to ſuffer, and when we come to die.
Queſt. 4. How and by what means ſhall I give up my ſelf and Soul to God? P. 179.
1. Be ſure that you do not give away your Soul from God to any thing elſe while you live.
2. Be ſure that you make God your friend while you live.
3. Be ſure that you get aſſurance that God is your friend and father.
4. Be faithful in keeping that depoſitum God now betruſts you with.
5. Ʋſe your ſelf to do it every day.
6. Study the Sovereignty of God.
7. Behold this example of Chriſt being before you.
ERRATA'S,
Page 31. l, 15. read your. p. 32. l. 23. r. warps. p. 35. l. 30. r. would. p. 37. l. 7. r. would. p. 38. l. 29. r. therefore. p. 44. l. 5. r. hear. p. 63. l. 19, r. nature. p. 71. l. 31. r. whence. p. 76. l. 6. r. God. p. 79. l. 30. r. is, p. 125. l, 8. r. thus. p. 126, l. 18. r. Proteſtant. p. 144. l. 31. r. thoſe. p. 157. l. 23. r. unknown.