The Works of William Bridge Volume 2, Table of contents
The Titles of the firſt Volumn.
I. The great Gospel-Myſtery of the Saints Comfort and Holineſs, opened and applied from Chriſts Prieſtly Office.
II. Satans power to Tempt; and Chriſts love to, and care of his people under Temptation.
III. Thankfulneſs required in every condition.
THE CONTENTS Of the Second VOLVMNE
JOHN, 1.16. SERMON I
Doctrine 1.
THERE is a Fulneſs of Grace in Jeſus Chriſt Page 3
Opened Ibid
Grace taken 3. waies
1 For the love and favour of God ibid
2 For holineſs Page 6
Proved by Demonſtrations Page 7
Objections anſwered Page 9
3 For gifts and abilities ibid
Proved
Application Duty 1
Let all men come to Chriſt Page 12
Objections anſwered
Duty 2 Let all truſt unto him, and build upon him Page 14
Duty 3 It is our duty to draw forth this fulneſs
1 By a frequent eying of it. Page 15
2 By reſting up on it in the time of tempt at on Page 16
3 By giving it foirth to others ibid
Duty 4 Let us labour to be like to him. ibid
Duty 5 Take heed how we do any thing that may rob Chriſt of glory of his fulneſs
SERMON II John 1.16.
Propoſition cleered Page 20
Doct. 2
All the Saints and people of God do pertake of the fulneſs of Chriſt in a way of receiving Page 20
Divided into two parts Page 21
1 There is a communication of the fulneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt unto all beleevers ibid
2 Whatſoever Grace or holineſſe the Saints have from Chriſt, they have it in a way of receiving ibid
The former proved
Reaſon 1. Becauſe there is a union between Chriſt and a beleever ibid
2 By 4. propoſitions
1 There is an infinite treaſury of grace in Jeſus Chriſt Page 22
2 What grace ſoever and holineſſe he received as mediator he received not for himſelf but for others ibid
3 There is an infinite willingneſſe in Jeſus Chriſt to communicate his grace to the ſons of men Page 25
4 There is nothing in heaven or earth can hinder him from doing all Page 28
Objection Why are beleevers ſo empty of grace
Anſwered 1 The fulneſſe of grace which is in a beleever is many times hid from the world Page 31
2 He communicates grace to them as an univerſal cauſe and an univerſal cauſe ſeldom or never produceth particular effects without the concurrence of a particular cauſe ibid
3 He doth it in proportion Page 32
4 He doth it according to their neceſſities and wants ibid
Application 1 Difference between the fulneſſe of the world and the fulneſſe of Chriſt Page 33
1 The fulneſſe of the world is made up of many things, The fulneſſe of Chriſt of but one thing, viz, the Deity ibid
2 The fulneſſe of the world is made up of worſer things, But the fulneſſe of Chriſt of the beſt of beſts Page 34
3 The fulneſſe of the world runs into emptineſſe, but the fulneſſe of Chriſt is a dwelling fulneſſe ibid
4 The fulneſſe of the world can never ſatisfie the better part of man. The fulneſs of Chriſt ever doth Page 35
5 The fulneſs of the earth cannot commend a man to God, the fulneſſe of Chriſt makes a man lovely in the eyes of God Page 36
6 The fulneſſe of the earth is mixt with poiſon, ſin, and the curſe of God, The fulneſſe of Chriſt with contentment ibid
7 The fulneſſe of the earth is a defiling fulneſſe, The fulneſſe of Chriſt, a pure fulneſſe Page 37
8 The fulneſſe of the world is leſſe than is expected, the fulneſſe of Chriſt is more than can be expected ibid
9 The fulneſſe of the world is ſometimes better wanted than enjoyed, The fulneſſe of Chriſt alwaies makes men happy ibid
10 The fulneſſe of the earth coſts many times more than it is worth, but Chriſt gives much, and takes nothing Page 38
11 All the fulneſs of the earth is not able to returne you love for love, The fulneſſe of Chriſt returns you more love than you brought ibid
Application 2 An encouragement to all men to come in to Jeſus Chriſt Page 39
To Beleevers It will make them firm againſt al
Temptations Page 40
Diſcouragments Page 40
Afflictions Page 40
To Unbeleevers Page 41
Application 3 To beleevers to labour to own their own, and ſtrengthen their aſſurance of their union with Jeſus Chriſt Page 42
SERMON III John 1.16.
Doct.
What grace or holineſſe the Saints have from Chriſt, They have it all in a way of receiving Page 46
Proved by inſtances
In Juſtification ibid
In Adoption ibid
In Sanctification ibid
In The gifts of the ibid
In holy Ghoſt ibid
Prayer Page 47
All in general ibid
The rain that fals Page 48
As alſo
1 By the inſufficiency of Nature
1 To overcome ſin though never ſo ſmall Page 49
2 To riſe again if he be fallen Page 50
3 To continue if he ſhould riſe again Page 51
4 To do any one good work Page 52
5 To prepare himſelf unto what is good ibid
2 By the ſupernaturallity of grace Page 54
3 By the ſhortneſſe of the means of grace Page 55
4 By the work and nature of faith Page 56
5 By the poſture and true behaviour of prayer Page 57
Object. This cuts off all endeavours
Anſwered Page 58
1 It moves to endeavours becauſe it cauſeth love and fear Page 59
2 Whatſoever ſervice we tender to God on this ſide heaven, is all a waiting vponupon him Page 60
Reaſons of the point
1 That all boaſting, rejoycing and confidence in ones ſelf may be taken away Page 61
2 That Jeſus Chriſt may be fully honoured and exalted ibid
3 That the Saints may live by faith Page 62
Application 1 Behold what infinite care God hath of beleevers Page 62
Application 2 Behold what pleaſant lives the Saints live Page 65
Application 3 What abundance live under the Goſpel that have no ſaving intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt ibid
Application 4 All is from grace from firſt to laſt Page 66
SERMON IIII John 1.16.
Doct Abundance of grace the Saints in the new Teſtament have from Jeſus Chriſt Page 69
Cleered 1 If we conſider the ſeveral advances grace hath made from the beginning of the world to this day Page 71
1 We have it not by the candle but by the Sun Page 76
2 The vail is now rent, we have it not in ſhadow but in ſubſtance Page 79
3 It is not tempered with the Law but with the Goſpel Page 77
4 We have it not in bondage but with the ſpirit of adoption ibid
5 We have it from the Son of God Page 78
2 As there is abundance of grace diſcovered ſo there is abundance exhibited and communicated to the Saints Page 78
1 It is a great matter for an ungodly man to be juſtified Page 79
2 It's a great matter for a man to be the Son of God ibid
3 It is a great matter to have the Image of Jeſus Chriſt drawn upon a filthy ſoul ibid
4 It is a great matter for a man to be in heaven before he comes there Page 80
Object. We do not ſee ſuch abundance of Grace in the lives of thoſe that are accounted godly
Anſwered 1. Do you conſider the oppoſition of Grace? when grace is much oppoſed, though it be little in bulk it will be great in operation Page 80
2 Conſider the Retinue of it, though grace be mean it hath a rich retinue Page 81
3 Conſider the myſtery of grace
1 It is a great matter to tremble at the word and yet to love it and prize it Page 82
2 To love the Ordinances and yet at the ſame time to think he doth not profit thereby Page 83
3 To comfort himſelf in that the Lord knows his heart, and yet to ſee there is much hypocriſy there ibid
4 To be ſenſible of his ſin and yet not willing to chang his condition with another for all the world ibid
5 To work out his ſalvation with fear and trembling, and yet to rely upon Jeſus Chriſt alone for it Page 84
6 For a man to walk cloſely with God and yet be in the dark ibid
7 To be diligent in his particular calling, and yet take no thought what he ſhall eat, drink, or put on ibid
8 To know that God will work good and gain to him out of his ſin, and yet to ſtrive againſt it as againſt the greateſt evil of the world ibid
9 To be the more afflicted becauſe his affliction comes from God Page 85
10 To pray earneſtly for a better condition, and yet be contented with his preſent though never ſo mean ibid
Application 1 Do not vilifie the gift of God wherewith thou art enriched through Jeſus Chriſt Page 86
Application 2 Behold what great ſinners profeſſors are Page 86
Application 3
What a mighty encouragement here is, both to good and bad
To bad, to come in to Chriſt Page 88
To good, to abound in grace Page 88
SERMON V John 1.16.
Doct. Whatſoever grace the Saints have they have it from Jeſus Chriſt Page 91
Proved By the inſufficiency of nature Page 92
By the alſufficiency of Chriſt Page 93
Objections anſwered Page 99. 101
What good a Chriſtian receives hence
1 Jeſus Chriſt is made our ſtrength Page 104
2 We are moved to love him ibid
3 To live in dependance upon him ibid
4 To walk humbly before him ibid
5 To be fruitful Page 105
Application What infinite cauſe have we to advance the Name of Jeſus Chriſt Page 106
How may this be done
1 By offering up our own chriſt to him Page 107
2 Account it a great honour to belong unto him ibid
3 Give not the worſt, but alwaies the beſt to him Page 108
4 Deſpiſe not the choice work of Chriſt ibid
5 Truſt alwaies in him ibid
6 So to walk that the men of the world may ſpeak well of the waies of God Page 109
7 Own Chriſt Page 110
8 Be willing to ſtoop to any work, for Jeſus Chriſt, though it lie below your condition
SERMON VI John 1.16.
Doct. Whatſoever grace or holineſs there is in Jeſus Chriſt, there is ſomewhat in the Saints that is anſwerable thereunto Page 113
Proved
Reaſon 1 Becauſe there is a bleſſed union between Chriſt and every Chriſtian Page 115
Reaſon 2 Jeſus Chriſt is our ſecond Adam a common perſon between God and us Page 117
Reaſon 3 There is an incomparable love between Chriſt and a Chriſtian ibid
Reaſon 4 There is the ſame ſpirit in a Chriſtian that is in Chriſt Page 119
Object. How can this be?
Anſwered Page 120
Application 1 How many perſons there are that live under the Goſpel and have no intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt Page 122 Inſtanced
1 In prophane people ibid
2 In meerly Civil and morral people ibid
3 In Hypocrites Page 123
Application 2 What a bleſſed thing it is for people to be in Chriſt Page 123
Queſt. What is our duty that flows from hence?
Anſw. 1. Be not proud of it Page 124
2. Improve it Page 125
1 By beholding it ibid
2 By imitating it ibid
1 By bearing witneſs to the truth ibid
2 By ſtooping to any work though below us ibid
3 By being much in prayer ibid
4 By not knowing our natural relations ibid
5 Having an high eſteem of the Saints though never ſo low Page 126
6 So exerciſing one grace as that we may exerciſe another ibid
7 Being a lambe in our cauſe, a lyon in Gods ibid
8 In ſufferings
1 Not till we are called ibid
2 When we are called not to be put out of the way ibid
3 To have regard to other mens goods ibid
4 To be more ſenſible of Gods withdrawings than of al other pains ibid
Application 3 How infinitely we are bound to God the Father for our Lord Jeſus Chriſt Page 128
Gods two great gifts were
1 He gave the world to man
2 He gave Jeſus Chriſt to the world ibid
Application 4 Be contented to have fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt in all his ſufferings
SERMON I Romans, 4.19.
Text opened Page 152
Doct. 1. When God intends to fulfill his promiſe by giving any ſpecial bleſſing to beleevers, he doth firſt put the ſentence of death upon it, and upon all the means that lead unto it. Page 154
Proved
Reaſon. 1 That he may be moſt ſeen therein Page 156
Reaſon 2 That the Saints may learn to truſt to God alone Page 157
Reaſon 3 That they may be conformable to Jeſus Chriſt Page 158
Reaſon 4 That their comforts may be the more ſure and ſtedfaſt ibid
Objections anſwered Page 159
Cautions,
1 Ʋnderſtand this, concerning great and ſpiritual bleſſings Page 160
2 The ſentence of death may be put upon the bleſſing in another mans hand Page 161
3 It is much according to the life of the mercy that come afterward Page 162
Queſt. Why doth God firſt give the promiſe?
Anſw. 1 To ſhew us where the mercy lies Page 163
2 Becauſe he doth not intend we ſhall have it preſently ibid
3 That our hearts may be born up againſt all diſcouragements Page 164
Application Reſt upon God in the darkeſt times Page 164
Queſt. How ſhall I know the mercy will revive again
Anſw. There are two acts of faith
1 Reliance
2 Aſſurance
Accordingly there are two objects of faith
1 A may be of mercy
2 A ſhall be of mercy
A may be, of mercy cauſeth Reliance
A ſhall be, of mercy cauſeth Aſſurance
Reliance cauſeth quietneſs
Aſſurance cauſeth joy ibid
Waies to know whether mercies ſhall riſe again or not
1 By the frequent viſitings of the promiſe Page 167
2 By the firſt fruits of the promiſe Page 168
Encouragements to wait
1 If ever it riſe it will be the choiceſt mercy we had in all our lives Page 170
2 It will be the ſureſt mercy ibid
3 It will be the ſweeteſt mercy Page 171
SERMON II Rom. 4.19.
Doct. When God is pleaſed thus to put the ſentence of death upon a bleſſing or the means that leads to it, it is the duty of the ſons of Abraham to truſt in God and not ſtand poring upon the means and deadneſs thereof Page 174
Divided into three propofitions, and cleered
1 A meer rational conſidering of the means and the deadneſs thereof is a great enemy to beleeving cleered Page 174
2 When all means fail and ſeem to lie dead, then it is the duty of all the ſons of Abraham, to beleeve cleered Page 177
3 Thus to beleeve when all means fail, is exceeding well pleaſing and acceptable to God, cleared Page 180
Application What an encouragement is here to to live above hope and under hope Page 183
Object. We are afraid to beleeve when means fail, becauſe God hath commanded us to uſe the means
Anſwered Page 184
1 It may be God takes away the means to try thy faith Page 185
2 God doth never give to ſupply our luſts, but to ſupply our wants ibid
3 If all the means fail, faith is a means to a means Page 186
4 Look what way God is uſed to walk in towards you, in that way you may boldly expect him ibid
Object. I ſhould proſume if I ſhould truſt in God when means fail
Anſwered Page 188
SERMON III Rom. 4.19
Doct. True ſaving faith carries the ſoul through all difficulties Page 192
Cleered
1 In that the wy to Jeſus Chriſt is clogged with many difficulties Page 193
2 True ſaving faith will carry a man through them all Page 195
3 Nothing but faith can do it, For,
1. Conviction of the good waies of God cannot Page 200
2 Reſolution will not ibid
3 Morral vertues will not Page 201
4 Gifts and parts, Goſpel enlargments cannot ibid
4 What it is in faith that doth it
1 Faith ſhews the ſoul the inviſible things of God Page 202
2 It tels the ſoul all things are it's own Page 203
3 It ſhews a man greater excellencies in Chriſt than all difficulties Page 204
4 It enables the ſoul to leave the ſucceſs and event of all to God ibid
5 It is that grace whereby a ſoul takes up the yoke of Chriſt Page 205
6 It teacheth man to pick out the love of God from under the anger of God Page 206
7 It fils the ſoul with Gods infinitneſs Page 207
Application If Difficulties ariſe, here is the way to grapple with them Page 207
Object. How ſhall a man uſe his faith that be may break through all difficulties?
Anſwered
1 Exerciſe your faith in the promiſe, before you ſpeak with the difficulties Page 208
2 When you do look upon them, look upon them as your trials & many times as the Devils Engins to work your hearts off again Page 208
3 Set your ſelves (now eſpecially) with al your might to venture upon Jeſus Chriſt Page 209
4 The greater difficulties your graces are recovered out of the hands of, the more ſweet will they be unto you Page 210
5 Study Jeſus Chriſt more ibid
Object. Suppoſe a man hath bin in Jeſus Chriſt a great while, and then diſcouragements ariſe to beat him out of the ways of Chriſt how ſhal he raiſe his faith to work through theſe?
Anſwered
1 Conſider your call, often Page 211
2 The more you beleeve in the ful of difficulty, the more you pleaſe God ibid
3 Talke often one to another what great things God hath done, that he hath promiſed Page 212
4 Conſider what great difficulties Jeſus Chriſt hath broke thorow to come to you ibid
5 Never ſpeak with your difficulties apart from a promiſe. ibid
Matthew, 3.2. SERMON I
The text opened and explained Page 216
Doct. The kingdom of Grace, mercy & forgiveneſs, comes to us before we com to that Page 211
Proved Page 218
Evidenced 1 From our own condition. Loſt ſheep Page 228
2 From Chriſts willingneſs to ſave ſinners Page 224
Objections anſwered Page 225
Reaſ. 1 That God may be known to be God Page 229
Reaſ. 2 That men may be made the more gracious ibid
Reaſ. 3 That no fleſh may glory in it ſelf nor any thing it doth Page 231
Application 1 Conſider whether God have dealt thus by our ſouls or no Page 232
If ſo, learn theſe duties
1 Be ſooner at heaven gate with your duties hereafter than you were before Page 234
2 Labour to be like God in this particular ibid
3 Wait with long ſuffering for the converſion of others Page 235
4 Truſt in God for ever Page 236
Application 2 You that have not received the Kingdome of Grace, Take heed how ye neglect ſo great ſalvation Page 237
SERMON II Matth. 3.2.
Doct. 2 The drawing nigh of the kingdom of grace, is the greateſt motive to true Repentance Page 240
Opened by conſidering the particulars of Repentance, and you ſhall find the grace and love of God hath influence upon them all Viz.
1 Sight and knowledge of ſin Page 242
2 Be humbled for it Page 243
3 Loath himſelf ibid
4 Be aſhamed of it ibid
5 Acknowledge it Page 244
6 Labor to unſin it it ib.
Reaſon 1 Becauſe Repentance is a fruit of faith Page 245
Reaſ. 2 Becauſe it flows from love Page 246
Object. Arguments drawn from Hell, and the wrath of God, ſeem to work Repentance more than the love of God Page 247
Anſwered, by diſtinctions
1 It is one thing to be troubled in conſcience, and another thing to be humbled for ſin Page 248
2 It's one thing to be prickt at heart, and another thing to repent ibid
3 It's one thing to repent of ſin in regard of the inconvenience of it, and another thing to repent in regard of the morral evil of it ibid
4 Its one thing to be broken with the weight of ſin, and another to have the ſoul melted for it Page 249
5 Its one thing to have ſorrow & repentance in the Ore, and another thing to have it refined. ibid
5 It is one thing for repentance to be more in view, another to be mort in ſpirit Page 250
7 It is one thing for our Repentance to affect our own heart much, another thing for to affect the heart of God much.
Uſe 1 What a ſad condition are thoſe in, to whom the kingdom of God hath come, and yet they are not moved to repentance Page 251
Uſe 2 The reaſon why our hearts are no more humbled is, becauſe we do not labor to bring the kingdome of God neere to our ſouls Page 252
Uſe 3 What infinit cauſe we have to repent Page 254
1. The more evangelical our repentance is, the more it will cure our ſouls, and not hurt our bodies Page 255
2 The more you wil be grieved for ſins againſt the Goſſel Page 256
3 It is a friend to ſpiritual joy ibid
4 The more you hope your ſin is pardoned, the more you will grieve for it Page 257
5 The more your heart will be enlarged to and for Chriſt ibid
6 The more of the Goſpel is in your repentance, the more of the Goſpel will be in your obedience Page 257
7 The more your hearts will be ſweetned towards the Saints Page 258
FINIS