The Works of William Bridge Volume 1, Table of contents – List of scriptural passages 2

The Works of William Bridge Volume 1 · Table of contents – List of scriptural passages 2

THE CONTENTS Of the Firſt VOLVMNE

HEBREWES, 2.17, 18. SERMON I.

THE words opened Doct. Page 2

The Prieſtly office of Chriſt is the great Magazine and Store-houſe of all that grace and comfort we have, on this ſide heaven Page 3

Proved ibid

1 It is a relief and ſuccour to a Chriſtian againſt all temptations Page 6

Cleered by particulars

1 When the Lord Jeſus Chriſt died, he offered up himſelf a ſacrifice to God the Father Page 7

Proved Page 8

2 When he was upon the Altar, the ſins of all beleevers paſt, preſent, and to come, were laid upon Chriſt Page 9

Cleered ibid

3 When the ſins of beleevers were laid upon him, he did make full ſatisfaction to God the Father and Divine Juſtice for them all ibid

Object. Why Beleevers have their ſins ſtill charged upon their Conſciences

Anſwered Page 13

4 This he hath done in a more eminent way than ever any high prieſt did before Page 14

5 How all this conduceth to our comfort or holineſs Page 15

It conduceth to our comfort

1 There is a ſtore houſe of mercy and meer compaſſion erected for poor ſinners Page 15

2 All our Afflictions come not upon us as puniſhments Page 16

3 We ſhall never be damned ibid

4 We may come with boldneſs to the throne of grace ibid

Object. How ſhall I know that Jeſus Chriſt hath ſatisfied for me?

Anſ. 1. Why not for thee? Page 17

2 Applying the promiſe makes it thine ibid

3 Chriſt is willing you ſhould think he ſatisfied for you ibid

4 Elſe we are in a worſe condition than the Jews

It conduceth to our holineſs

1 The new covenant is founded upon it Page 19

2 Strengthen faith and ſtrengthen all graces ibid

3 The more a man ſees a holy neceſſity upon Chriſt to ſhew mercy, the more his faith riſes Page 20

4 The more a man is engaged to Chriſt, the more holy he is, the more a man ſees his ſins pardoned the more is he engaged to Chriſt ibid

5 The more a man denies his own reghteouſneſs, the more holy is he with Goſpel-holineſs Page 21

SERMON II. Heb. 2.17, 18.

The ſecond work of a high prieſt, is, to pray and intercede for the people Page 25

Proved Page 26

Cleered by opening

1 Wherein it conſiſteth

1 In owning our cauſe and ſouls to God his father Page 27

2 Carries the merit of his blood into the preſence of God the Father Page 28

3 Anſwers the accuſations that are brought in againſt us ibid

4 Cals for pardon of our ſins at the hands of God Page 30

2 How powerful it is with God the father,

1 The great intereſt he hath with his father Page 31

2 The inclination God the Father hath to the things Chriſt intercedeth for Page 32

3 upon what terms Chriſt was taken and admitted into heaven Page 34

3 He now intercedeth for us in heaven as our High-prieſt

1 He hath gone through more temptations than any High-prieſt ever did Page 35

2 He is filled with more compaſſions Page 36

3 He is more faithful in his office Page 37

4 He liveth for ever to intercede Page 38

5 He intercedeth at all times ibid

6 For all ſins, the ſin againſt the holy-Ghoſt excepted

4 This conducech to our comfort and holineſs

To our comfort, proved Page 39

Object. I am afraid the Lord Chriſt doth not intercede for me

Anſw. 1. It is no preſumption to bear our ſelves upon the interceſſion of Jeſus Chriſt Page 41

2 Who thoſe are that Chriſt doth intercede for Page 42

3 How infinitely willing he is to intercede for us

1 He hath received his anointing for it Page 44

2 It is the work of his relation Page 45

3 It is the work of his office Page 46

To our holineſs

1 The more we are engaged to come to Chriſt Page 48

2 The more we are engaged to appear on earth for him Page 49

3 The more we are engaged to lay out our ſelves for him Page 50

SERMON III Heb. 2.17, 18.

The third work of the High Prieſt, to offer up the gifts of the people to God, to preſent their duties, to him Page 52

Proved Page 53

Cleered by particulars

1 What Chriſt doth when he offers up our gifts to God the Father Page 54

1 He takes our perſons and carries them to God the Father in an unperceivable way to us ibid

2 He takes out the iniquity of our duties, before he preſents our duties to his father Page 55

3 He mingles his own interceſſion with what is good in our duties, and ſo preſents them as one work to his father Page 56

2 What acceptance this hath with God the Father Page 57

1 It was an agreement made between them before the world was ibid

2 He was made the great Lord treaſurer of all grace Page 58

3 The father promiſeth him his deſire ibid

4 He hath put the keys of heaven and hell into his hands ibid

3 He doth Improve his acceptance for our acceptance Page 59

4 What abundance of acceptance we have in all our duties by him Page 60

Objections anſwered Page 62

5 How this makes for our comfort and holineſs Page 64

For our comfort

1 Our duties are not loſt, Chriſt takes notice of them Page 65

2 We have liberty to go to the mercy ſeat and there meet with God ibid

3 We know how it ſhall go with us at the great day of judgment ibid

4 Being poor beggers we are releeved of God Page 66

Object, How ſhall I know the Lord accepts my duty?

Anſw. 1 If thou find thy heart warm in duty or after duty, thy duty is accepted Page 67

2 Can you pray and intercede for other godly men Page 68

3 If grace be larger under the Goſpel than under the Law ibid

For our holineſs

1 To the ungodly

1 It keeps men from oppoſition to the wayes of God Page 69

2 It is a mighty encouragement to ungodly men to come to Chriſt Page 70

2 To the godly

1 Here's an infinite reaſon why we ſhould be much in duty ibid

2 Infinite reaſon why we ſhould receive every truth that comes from Chriſt Page 71

3 It will make you more obedient in an evangelical way. Page 72

4 The more a man rejoyceth in ſpirituall obedience the more humble he is Page 74

SERMON IIII Heb. 2.17, 18.

The fourth work of the High prieſt is, to bleſſe the people Page 76

Proved ibid

Opened

1 Wherein the bleſſing of Chriſt and of the Goſpel conſiſts Page 77

1 In the ſpiritual enjoyment of God in Chriſt Page 79

2 In the holy Ghoſt dwelling in our hearts ibid

2 What Chriſt doth when he doth bleſſe

1 He wiſheth choyce bleſſings to them Page 80

2 He doth authoritively pronounce him bleſſed Page 81

3 He abſolves them from all their ſins ibid

4 He confers and beſtows the bleſſing upon them ibid

5 He gives increaſe Page 82

3 That this belongs eſpecially to Chriſt, proved Page 83

4 That Jeſus Chriſt is willing to bleſſe poor ſinners Page 85

5 He doth this fully ibid

Object. We do not ſee it

Anſw. 1. 'Tis a hard thing to diſcern the bleſſing of Chriſt ſometimes ibid

2 He doth not bleſſe as the world bleſſeth Page 84

3 Not as profeſſors bleſſe Page 85

4 Not alwaies as godly men bleſſe ibid

But 1. He bleſſeth ſuch as are weak in gifts and grace Page 86

2 Such as he hath made uſe of in the work of God ibid

3 Such as are willing to leave all relations to follow him Page 87

4 He bleſſeth when the world curſeth ibid

5 Such as graciouſly enjoy evangelical ordinances Page 88

6 All this conduceth to our comfort and holineſs

To our comfort Page 88

Object. If I were aſsured God had bleſſed me I could have comfort

Anſw. 1 It is a ſign a man is bleſſed, when others are bleſſed by him Page 90

2 When he is drawn the neerer to God by outward things Page 91

3 When he encreaſeth and multiplieth ibid

To our holineſſe

1 it encourageth to come to the truth Page 92

2 To go on in it againſt all oppoſition Page 94

3 To go on though we have but weak parts ibid

4 To be contented with our condition Page 95

5 Continually to bleſs the Lord ibid

Hebrews, 2.18. SERMON I

Text opened Page 98

Doct.

God ſuffers his deereſt children to ſuffer by the hand of temptation Page 101

Opened

1 There is an afflictive diſpoſition in every temptation Page 101

2 God ſuffers his own children thus to ſuffer

1 The beſt many times ſuffer moſt Page 103

2 At that very time when they have moſt of God ibid

3 Satan many times ſeems to have the better of them Page 104

4 This continues a long time ibid

Why God doth ſo

1 That they may be the more enlightened Page 104

2 That they may be cleanſed ibid

3 That they may be kept ibid

4 That their graces may encreaſe Page 105

5 That it may be diſcovered to themſelves and others, what their ſins and graces are ibid

6 That they may be the more fit to receive Chriſt as a Saviour ibid

7 That they may be made like to Chriſt ibid

8 Ʋpon the ſame reaſons that God ſuffered the children of Iſrael to ſuffer under the Egyptians

1 That his power might appear Page 106

2 That they might not learn their manners ibid

3 That they might be provoked againſt them to cut them off Page 106

4 That they might long for the Land of Reſt Page 107

5 That they might not return back to Egypt. ibid

Objection. Anſwered Page 108

Application

Do not queſtion the love of God becauſe of temptations Page 109

Object.

How ſhall I order my heart in temptations?

Anſw.

1 Take heed you do not yeeld to any part of a temptation that you may be delivered from. Page 113

2 Do not carry the guilt of your old condition into a new condition ibid

3 Note what ſutableneſs there is in your condition to the temptation, and take away that Page 114

4 Turn your thoughts to another object Page 115

5 Take the Shield of Faith. ibid

6 Doe not feare too much, Do not fear too little Page 116

7 If you overcome, be thankful; if you be overcome, hold up ſtill Page 117

8 Make good improvement of it ibid

Sermon 2. Heb. 2.18.

Doct.

The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is a ſuccouring Chriſt to tempted ſouls Page 220

Proved Page 221

Opened

1 Chriſt is able to do it Page 222

2 He is willing to do it

1 It is Gods will, and he delights to do the will of God Page 224

2 He was willing to ſuffer it, therefore to do ibid

3 He is much troubled if it be not done Page 225

3 He is faithfull in doing it. Page 226

4 How Chriſt ſuccours in temptation.

1 Before temptation

1 By manifeſtation of him ſelf Page 227

2 By laying in Goſpel-principles ibid

3 By filling the heart with the Holy Ghoſt Page 228

2 Ʋnder Temptation.

1 By opening their eyes to ſee it is but a temptation Page 228

2 By letting fall ſome glimps of his love ibid

3 He doth ſuccour from temptation, by temptation Page 229

4 By caſting in ſome promiſe ibid

5 By keeping the heart and the temptation aſſunder ibid

3 After temptation, by filling the heart with unſpeakable joy ibid

Application 1

A gracious invitation to poore tempted ſouls to come to Chriſt Page 229

Object.

Why then are men damned?

Anſwered Page 230

Other objections anſwered ibid

Object.

My temptation is mixed with corruption

Anſwered

1 He ſuccours ſinners moſt when they are moſt tempted Page 231

2 When they cannot ſuccour themſelves Page 232

3 Notwithſtanding all their failings ibid

Application 2

Here is ſtrong conſolation to all Saints Page 233

Application 3

Let us be ſuccouring Chriſtians Page 235

Application 4

Why ſhould we yeeld to temptations though never ſo violent Page 236

Application 5

Let us labour to anſwer Chriſt in this work

1 Obſerve his ſuccours and lay them up againſt a rainy day ibid

2 Labour to keep the ſence of his love upon your hearts Page 237

3 Look up to Chriſt ibid

4 Give thy ſoul up into his hands Page 238

5 Reſt on him ibid

6 Do not reſt upon means becauſe great, nor deſpiſe them becauſe ſmal ibid

7 Do not live upon the letter of a promiſe Page 239

8 If you have the worſt, be humbled, If the better, improve your victory ibid

SERMON III Luke 22.31, 32.

Text opened Page 241

Doct.

Chriſt gives leave to Satan ſometimes to tempt his own and beſt Diſciples Page 242

Opened

1 What great power Satan hath to tempt and moleſt the children of men

1 He is an Angel Page 242

2 He is a Spirit Page 243

3 He is able to ſuggeſt what he pleaſeth ibid

4 He knows what bait will ſooneſt take ibid

5 He is able to follow his ſuggeſtions ibid

6 He is able to bemire the fancy ibid

7 To hold down a mans mind to that particular thing Page 244

8 The ſame words which are given to God for good, are given to the Devil for evil ibid

Wherein the Devil fals ſhort of God ibid

2 He puts forth this power eſpecially upon the beſt of Saints Page 245

Object

Why doth Satan lie ſo heavy upon the Saints ſeeing he knows they ſhall be ſaved

Anſw.

1 His envy Page 246

2 That they may be ſtumbling blocks to others ibid

3 He loves to moleſt them Page 247

3 How he comes by this power Page 248

4 Why God gives Satan leave to tempt his own children

1 To wean them from that ſin they fall into Page 249

2 The manifeſtation of his own power, wiſdom, faithfulneſs, and free-grace Page 250

Application

Why ſhould any man doubt of his ſonſhip Page 251

Object.

Mine is no temptation of Satan but the corruption of my own heart

Anſwered

1 It is uſual for Saints to charge all Satans temptations upon their own hearts Page 254

2 The Saints never fall into any great ſin, but Satan hath a ſpecial hand in it. Page 255

3 It is the diſpoſition of the Saints to be grieved for their ſins, as if all were from themſelves and nothing from Satan ibid

4 The difference between Satans temptations and our corruptions Page 256

Object.

What comfort can we have in this condition?

1 Nothing befals you but what may befal a child of God Page 257

2 Whilſt thou art tempted Chriſt is praying for thee ibid

3 The enemy is overcome before he ſtrikes ibid

4 He hath no more power than God gives him Page 258

5 Thou haſt ſomething cannot be taken from thee ibid

Object. 2

What ſhall I do that I may not not yeeld to temptation?

Anſwered Page 258

Object.

What ſhall I do that I may avoid temptation?

1 Do not ſtand playing upon the borders of any ſin Page 260

2 Get your hearts mortified to the objects of love and fear ibid

3 Take your temptation and dip it in the blood of Chriſt Page 261

SERMON IIII Luke 22.31, 32.

Doct.

The great deſign of Satan is upon the faith of the Saints Page 263

Opened

1 What it is to fail in faith Page 264

2 What evil is in failing in faith Page 266

He loſeth

1 An opportunity of glorifying God ibid

2 His joy and peace ibid

3 His preſent prize Page 267

4 The ſweetneſs of his mercy ibid

3 That Satans great deſign in Temptation is upon our faith Page 268

Why it is ſo Page 269

4 How Satan weakens our faith Page 270

1 Our faith of Reliance ibid

1 By hiding our former experiences ibid

How to bear off that blow

1 Take heed you never reſt upon a promiſe barely becauſe of experience Page 271

2 Take heed ye never mourn ſo for ſin as to be unthankfull for mercies Page 272

2 By ſevering our ſouls from the promiſe

How ſhall we bear of that blow?

1 God commands me to beleeve therefore the promiſe belongs unto me Page 273

2 If the Lord gives out a threatning that it may not be fulfilled, then he gives out a promiſe that it may be fulfilled ibid

3 If I am more godly then I was when Satan told me that the promiſe did belong to me, then is the temptation cauſeleſs ibid

4 God hath commanded me to beleeve Page 274

2 How Satan weakens our faith of Aſſurance

1 By telling us we have no faith ibid

2 By telling us we have no obedience Page 275

How to ward off this blow? Page 279

That we have no faith

How to ward off this blow?

1 The Lord doth give out particular promiſes for men to meaſure their condition by Page 276

2 God doth not alwaies give out a particular promiſe. ibid

3 Particular promiſes have a particular faith Page 278

3 How Satan weakens our faith of Acknowledgement

By keeping us from owning Chriſt Page 278

How to bear off this blow?

1 Poſſeſs your ſouls with the priviledge of ſuffering for Chriſt Page 279

2 Be ſure you look on both ſides of your ſufferings. Page 279

Queſt.

What general Rules may be given to ſtay our faith that it fail not in temptation?

Anſw.

1 Study the Scripture much Page 280

2 Do not meaſure your ſelves by the Enlargement or, Deadneſs of your owne hearts ibid

3 Look much unto the infirmities of Jeſus Chriſt. Page 281

4 Do not conclude it is no temptation ibid

5 Remember thy own ſoul of the waies of God with thee ibid

6 Apply the Attributes of Chriſt ſutable to the temptation Page 282

7 Take the Shield of faith. ibid

SERMON V. Luke, 22.21, 22.

Doct.

Gods love and mercy is never more at work for his people, than when they are moſt tempted by Satan Page 286

Cleared

Firſt. Wherein the care of Chriſt is expreſſed to his people in temptation.

1 In ordering their temptations ibid

2 He weakens them. Page 287

3 He cauſeth them to be laid downe ſo as that they may be diſcerned. ibid

4 He orders the time. Page 288

5 He ſanctifies them. ibid

How is Chriſts love drawn out to his people under temptation

1 In teaching them in and by their temptations Page 289

2 He upholds them with new ſupplies Page 290

3 He gives them a breathing time under temptations Page 291

4 He praies for them, then eſpecially ibid

2 His care is moſt expreſſed when they are moſt tempted

3 What there is in Chriſt that inclines him to this Page 293

1 The quinteſcence of all love he hath to them Page 294

2 The great intereſt he hath in them ibid

Application

Abundance of comfort to all Chriſts Diſciples Page 295

Object.

I fear I am none of Chriſts Diſciple?

Anſw.

1 All Chriſts Diſciples deny themſelves Page 296

2 They take up their Croſs ibid

3 They follow Chriſt ibid

2 Chriſt doth not only pray for his preſent Diſciples, but for all ſuch as beleeve through their word Page 297

Object.

My heart fails me in time of temptation

Anſw.

1 There is difference between failing of ones faith and failing of ones heart Page 298

2 Between failing in faith in our own opinion and in Chriſts opinion ibid

3 Between failings of faith, and failings that acompany faith ibid

4 Conſider whether your faith failed like Peters Page 299

Other objections anſwered Page 300

1 Theſſalonians, 5.18.

Doct.

It is the will of God that we ſhould be thankful to him for every thing Page 306

Reaſ. 1.

There is excellencies enough in God ibid

2 No condition is ſo ſad but there is ſome good mingled with it ibid

3 Chriſtians muſt be like Jeſus Chriſt Page 307

Object.

Suppoſe a mans ſpiritual condition be overclouded?

Anſw.

1 Though God do not ſhine upon a Chriſtian yet it may be light to him Page 311

2 Though Chriſt withdraw his comforting preſence yet he doth not his ſupporting preſence ibid

3 Though Chriſt withdraw yt he draws by his Spirit Page 312

4 What a man would not looſe for all the world, is worthy of praiſe ibid

Object.

Suppoſe God do not only withdraw but Satan draws neer

Anſw.

Be thankful, Becauſe

1 Chriſt hath overcome him Page 312

2 He can do no more than God gives him leave to do Page 313

3 Nothing befals you but what befalls the beſt of the Saints ibid

4 Chriſt ſuccours you in your temptations ibid

What particular things we ſhould be thankful for

1 We are redeemed of the Lord. Page 317

2 That we have ſo many dayes of Thankſgiving ibid

Encouragments to thankefulneſs

1 If you can be thankefull when you are low, you engage God to raiſe you up Page 320

2 Hereby your afflictions will bee made bleſſings. ibid

3 The more thankefull you are, the more your ſoules will be filled with peace. Page 321

4 Thereby ye ſhall ſhame the Devil

How this muſt be done

1 Obſerve your owne tempers and put your ſelves upon that duty your own diſpoſition lies next to. Page 314

2 Maintain your aſſurance freſh and green ibid

3 Let your eye be as well upon what you have as upon what you want Page 315

4 Be ſure maintain a ſence of your own unworthineſs ibid

FINIS.

SCRIPTURES Opened, And occaſionally Cleared in the Firſt VOLVMNE.

FINIS.

SCRIPTURES Opened, And occaſionally Cleared in the Second VOLVMNE.

FINIS

p. 1The great GOSPEL-Myſtery Of the SAINTS comfort and holineſſe.