The Works of William Bridge Volume 3, Title page – Instructions
THE WORKS OF WILLIAM BRIDGE, Sometime Fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in CAMBRIDGE, NOW Preacher of the Word of GOD at Yarmouth.
The third Volumn.
VIZ.
1. The Spiritual life, and In-being of Chriſt in all Believers.
2. The Woman of Canaan.
London, Printed by Peter Cole, at the ſign of the Printing-Preſs in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange. 1649.
To the Reader.
I Thought good to give thee notice, That theſe Sermons were taken from the Authors mouth when he preached them, and ſo were thoſe alſo that were lately publiſhed; the ſeveral titles whereof you may ſee in the Margin of this Epiſtle: The Titles of the ſeveral Pieces that are lately publiſhed of Mr. William Bridge. The firſt Volumn. 1. The great Goſpel-Myſtery of the Saints Comfort and Holineſs, opened and applyed from Chriſts Prieſtly Office. 2. Satans power to tempt, and Chriſts love to, and care of his people under temptation. 3. Thankfulneſs required in every condition. The ſecond Volumn. 1. Grace for Grace, or the overflowings of Chriſts fulneſs received by all Saints. 2. The Spiritual actings of Faith through Natural Impoſſibilities. 3. Evangelical repentance.A word spoken is ſoon forgotten, but what is written remains, and may do you, your children, and childrens children good; and this is the intent and deſire of the Author. When you view this mite of his, you may ſee ſomething of Chriſt in it, let it be your care to ſee what you can finde of Chriſt in your ſelves: Know ye not that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, except ye be Reprobates? This Work adviſeth you, not to reſt upon Notions, for then you do no other then feed your precious ſouls with fancies, which is as unfitting, and more dangerous food for your ſouls, then the husks were for the Prodigals body: 'Tis a Real Chriſt, not a Notional Chriſt, muſt ſatisfie your ſouls: We all know there is ſtore of gold in the India's, but we are never the richer for it, unleſs we have it in poſſeſsion; neither is it our hearing of Chriſt, nor our knowing there is a Chriſt, but our having of Chriſt in poſſeſsion that benefits our ſouls: Haſt thou a proud heart? read this Book, and it will teach thee humility; Haſt thou a deſpairing heart? read this Book, and it will teach thee to believe; Haſt thou a legal heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be Evangelical; Haſt thou a ſecure heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be Watchful; Haſt thou a froward heart? read this Book, it will teach thee to be meek: If thou wouldſt come to Chriſt with a Budget of duties upon thy ſhoulders (old Adams proud principle) then thou muſt not look here, for he labors to empty thee of thy own righteouſneſs, and ſend thee naked to Ieſus Chriſt, who came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance: If thou lookeſt for quaint speculations, and eloquent expreſsions of humane wiſdom, which adminiſter as little comfort to the Pastor, as edification to the People; in truth here's nothing to pleaſe fantaſtical cars with whimſeyr, it was neither spoken nor written for any ſuch intent; the words were ſpoken for edification, and were (by the deſire of friends) written for the ſame intent: If then thou leveſt plain dealing, and to benefit thy ſoul, read, and this Book will teach thee to leave the ſucceſs to God; When Paul hath plantted; and Apollo hath watred, 'tis God muſt give the increaſe: Art thou a ſinner? here is mercy for thee, here is Chriſt for thee: Art thou a drunkard? here's water of life for thee, which if thou drinkeſt, thou ſhalt never thirſt again: Art thou covetous? here's riches for thee, spiritual riches, durable riches that will not ſade: Art thou prophane? read this, and it will teach thee to be holy: Art thou a ſaint? here is comfort for thee, even the holy Spirit the comforter: Art thou in darkneſs? here is light for thee, Jeſus Chriſt the true light, that lightens every one that comes into the World, He ſhall be ten times more conſtant to thy ſoul, then the ſun in the Firmament: Art thou weak in parts? weak in Faith? weak in grace? read this Book, and (if the Lord be pleaſed to ſpeak to thy ſoul) here's ſtrength for thee, even the mighty God: Art thou poor?El. Gibbor. here's Chriſt, and the earth is his, and the fulneſs thereof, it is laid up in his hand for thee, it is the purchaſe of his blood, he hath bought it for thee, 'tis thy own and he doth but keep it for thee, and thou mayest go boldly to him for it; though thou art loath to borrow, and aſhamed to beg, yet thou mayeſt go boldly for thy own. This Book (courteous Reader) will teach thee to depend on God, to wait on Chriſt for all: He feeds the yong Ravens, be tends the Sparrows, he cloaths the Lillies, therefore be ſure he will not let his children want, whatſoever ſtorms be without: Keep Chriſt, and thou ſhalt have Peace, yea, the Prince of Peace within; then thou ſhalt have peace when all the world is in trouble, then thou ſhalt be kept ſafe in the hour of temptation, which ſhall come to try all thoſe that live upon the face of the earth: Prepare a place for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in thy heart, and he will provide a Manſion for thee in his Fathers houſe, where thou ſhalt ſin no more, nor ſorrow no more, but God ſhall wipe away all tears from thy eyes: Always remember, thou haſt here no abiding place, but ſeekeſt one to come: This (courteous Reader) is the courſe and aim of the Author in this Treatiſe for thy benefit, he ſpends his ſpirits, that thou mayest be happy, that thou mayest grow up from strength to strength, till thou comest to be a perfect man in Jeſus Chriſt; and this alſo is the earnest deſire and prayers of him to Almighty God, for thee, who is, and ſhall always remain,
Thine to love and ſerve in the Goſpel, VVilliam Greenhil.
READER,
THough there be other literal faults, and ſome redundant its and there's, yet you will pleaſe to mend them with your own pen, and conſider the Authors abſence from the Preſs.
Errata.
PAge 6. line 14. for them read it. p. 9. l. 11. dele not. p. 10. l. 2. for proxi r. proxim eni'. p. 22. l. 33. for and made alive, r. and not made alive. p 31. l. 25. for into the world, r. into the other world. p. 37. l. 29. dele me. p. 44. dele queſt. Anſw. in the Margin. l. 30 dele but. p. 51. l. 25. for prey r. praiſe. p. 75. l. 5. dele ſo is Chriſt. p. 76. l. 15. for but if, r. for it is. l. 16. for dwell r that dwelleth. p. 77. l. 26. for ſmiles r. ſmiled. and for in l. 29, 33. r. into. p. 81. l. 29. for their r. there. p. 83. l. 20. after the words of Chriſt, adde barely p. 101. l. 8. for Moſes r. Ioſhua. p. 103. l. 34. for Legi r. Lege. p. 105. l. 12. for firſt r. laſt. p. 108. l. 12. for Dominus & reginae r. Domina & regina. p. 109. l. 13. dele two p. 199. l. 13. for rigorous r. vigorous.