The Works of William Bridge Volume 3, Table of contents – List of volumes
THE CONTENTS Of the Third VOLVMNE
SERMON I
GALATIANS. 2.20.
TEXT Opened Page 2
Doctrine 1
Every godly, gracious man, is a living man, and lives a ſpiritual life Page 3
Explication
1 What this ſpiritual life is.
1. A ſupernatual perfection Page 3
2 It ariſeth from our Ʋnion with Chriſt by the Spirit Page 4
3 By it we act, move, and work towards God Ibid
2 How it may appear, that every godly, gracious man, is thus a living man
Proved
1 By vegetative life Page 5
2 By ſenſitive life ib.
1 They are ſenſible of their ſins Page 6
2 Of the hiding of Gods face ibid
3 Of the miſeries of the Churches Page 7
3 By rational life ibid
How it may appear that others are not in this ſtate of life Page 8
Objections anſwered Page 9. 10
Application.
Comforts for the Saints
1. It is above the life of Adam in innocency Page 12
2. It is the moſt pleaſant life ibid
3. It is the moſt communicative life Page 13
4. The Lord looks upon all our former ſins under a mollifying conſideration ibid
Object.
I am afraid I have not this ſpiritual life, becauſe I am dead, cold and ſtiff.
Anſwered
There is a deadneſs oppoſite to livelineſs as well as a death oppoſite to life Page 15
There is a difference between the coldneſs of a living man and the coldneſs of a dead man ibid
Object.
I am afraid I am not alive becauſe I do not grow
Anſwered
1. Do you grow out of love with your own righteouſneſs? Page 16
2. Are you leſs ſubject to be offended than before Page 17
3. Do you grow more off from youth ful things that godly men look to ibid
Object.
I am alive to the world.
Anſwered Page 18
Duties flowing from this ſpiritual life
1. We ſhould live at a higher rate than the world doth Page 20
2. Our hearts ſhould not run too much after the things of this world Page 21
3. Our comunion and fellowſhip ſhould be more with the living ibid
Exhortation to thoſe that are dead in ſins, to come to Chriſt Page 23
SERMON II.
Gal. 2.20.
Doctrine 2.
Our Juſtification by faith alone is no enemy but a real friend to our ſpiritual life Page 26
Explication.
1. What is meant by Juſtification by faith alone. Page 27
2. How doth it appear that free Juſtification by faith alone is the original of all our holineſs?
1. By contraries Page 29
2. By the paralel between the firſt and ſecond Adam Page 31
3. By the ſence of free remiſſion of ſin Page 32
Inſtanced in
1. Repentance Page 33
2. Mortification ibid
3. Obedience Page 34
3. Objections Anſwered Page 34. 35
4. What there is in free Juſtification by faith, that doth advance our holineſs
1. The more a man forſakes his own good for Chriſt, the more is Chriſt engaged to give his good to him Page 36
2. God doth never ſuffer any man to paſs under relation but he writes the Law of that relation in his heart ibid
3. The more a man agrees with God, the fitter he is to walk with God Page 36
4. As by ſeeking Juſtification by works, a man is eſtated in the covenant of works, ſo by ſeeking Juſtification by faith alone, a man is eſtated in the covenant of grace Page 37
Application.
Hence we ſee the reaſon why men are no more gracious Page 39
Object.
I fear my obedience was never right, becauſe I have turned aſide to a covenant of works.
Anſwered
Page 41
Object.
My obedience is not right becauſe it is ſo little
Anſwer
1. Doeſt thou limit thy ſelf? Page 42
2 Doeſt thou oppoſe them that have much? ibid
Object
My obedience is not right becauſe I do not find the viſible characters of Juſtification, upon my Sanctification
Anſwered.
1. Doeſt thou mourn for ſin becauſe 'tis pardoned? Page 44
2. Is there a meeting of all graces in thee? ibid
Object.
Suppoſe I have not ſtood cleer from my own doings in matter of Juſtification, how ſhall I do to do it?
Anſwered.
1. Be humbled in the ſight of God Page 46
2. Study much the tranſaction of things between God the father and Jeſus Chriſt ib.
3. Acquaint your ſouls with the difference between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace ibid
4. When your duties are higheſt let your ſouls go beyond them ibid
5. When they are loweſt you have an opportunity to ſtand cleer from them Page 47
SERMON III.
Gal. 2.20.
Doctrine.
Every true beleever that ſeeks Juſtification by faith alone is a ſelf-denying perſon Page 50
Explication.
1. What it is for a man to deny himſelf.
Anſwered Page 51
2. Whereby it may appear that the Goſpel works this grace in the heart of man
Anſwered.
1. If the Law cannot do it the Goſpel muſt Page 52
2. He that lives under the Goſpel is of a diſpoſition contrary to the world Page 53
3. He is tender of intrenching upon Gods prerogative Page 54
4. The more truly a man repents the more ſenſible he is of his own unworthineſs ibid
An objection.
How doth the Goſpel only do this, ſeeing moral men, Heathens and Papiſts have ſpoken and written much for humility and ſelf-denial.
Anſwer
1 Though they be humble, yet they are proud of humility. Page 56
2 'Tis only in ſome particulars ibid
3 He is ruled by reaſon, and not by the ſpirit ibid
4 There is no myſterie in it, as there is in a Chriſtians: For
1 A Chriſtian cries out, what ſhall he do to be ſaved: and yet he expects not to be ſaved by doing Page 57
2 He accounts himſelf leſse than the leaſt of all Gods mercies, and yet he thinks God hath done more for him than if he had given him all the world ib.
3 He prizes every duty though never ſo ſmall: and yet counts all dung in reſpect of Jeſus Chriſt ib.
4 He looks upon himſlf as the greateſt of ſinners: & yet would not change condition with a Drunkard, &c. for all the world. ib.
5 He mourns under reproaches: and yet triumphs over them ib.
6 He counts all he doth nothing: and yet praiſeth God for every thing. ib.
4 What there is in the Goſpel to being a mans heart to this frame
Anſwered
1 The more of Gods glory a man ſees, the more humble he is Page 58
2 The more ſelf-denial a man ſees in Chriſt, the more he denies himſelf Page 60
3 The more a man ſees himſelf a debter to Chriſt, the more humble he is Page 61
4 When Chriſt comes into the ſoule all other things muſt out ib.
Application.
How hard a thing it is to Beleeve. Page 62
Reply
We hope we all have faith
Anſwer
Are there not ſome that,
1 Cannot deny themſelves in outward things Page 64
2 Seek themſelves in ſpiritual things ib.
3 Stint themſelves in the ſervice of God Page 65
4 Preſcribe waies to the Lord ibid
5 Have ſtrange repetitions to themſelves ib.
6 Were never ſenſible of their owne pride in ſpirituall things Page 66
Motives to Self-denial
1 The more you deny your ſelves in ſpiritual things, the ſurer you ſhall be to keep them. Page 68
2 The more humble you will be in other things Page 69
3 The more you deny your ſelves in ſpiritual things, the more ye ſhall be exalted in them. ibid
How may we be able to deny our ſelves in ſpiritual things
1 Reflect upon thy defects in every duty thou performeſt. Page 70
2 Obſerve much the incomes of the Spirit of the Lord upon thy ſoul Page 71
3 Study the way of the Goſpel much ibid
SERMON IV
Gal. 2.20.
Doctrine
Chriſt is in all beleevers Page 74
Explication
How Chriſt may be ſaid to be in a beleever
1. By way of power ib.
2. By way of preſence ib.
3. In regard of his eſſence ib.
4. By way of ſpiritual manifeſtation Page 75
5. By way of perſonal union ibid
Objection
Then a beleever may ſay, I am Chriſt
Anſwered
1. This union is a voluntary not a natural act Page 78
2. It is by contact, not by compoſition ibid
3. It is by application, not by mixture Page 79
4. There is a great difference between the in-being of a ſpiritual thing in a material, and the in-being of one material thing in another ibid
Objection
What difference is there between this union and and the hypoſtatical union?
Anſwered
1 Though we are united, yet are we not aſſumed Page 81
2 There is no perſonal Ʋnion. ibid
3 It is accidental ibid
4 It is only to make him a member of the body, not a Mediator Page 82
Object.
How doth it appear that Chriſt is really in the ſoul of a Beleever?
Anſw.
1 Faith laies hold upon Chriſt Himſelf Page 83
2 Chriſt is in a Beleever as a Beleever is in Chriſt ibid
3 How would there elſe be three that bear witneſs ib.
What benefit comes from this?
1 A Beleever ſhall have glorious Communion with Chriſt Page 84
2 Chriſt's love is infinite towards Beleevers Page 85
3. A Beleever hath ſomething more than any Hypocrite can attain unto ib.
4 Then a beleever ſhall never ſpiritually die again Page 86
5 He may come with boldneſse to the Throne of Grace. ib.
Application
1 Admire at the unſpeakable love of Chriſt Page 87
2 No wicked man dares to oppoſe any of the people of God Page 88
3 Abundance of comfort to beleevers ibid
Object.
I fear Chriſt is not in me, becauſe I do not find him working in me
Anſw.
1 Whoſe ſervants are they that ordinarily come into and go out of your ſouls? Page 89
2 Do you find your ſouls in ſome meaſure naturalized to the work of Chriſt? ib.
3 Did you ever find that Chriſt was in you? Page 90
4 Do you not find ſome workings of grace, according to that ſtation you have in the body of Chriſt? Page 91
Duties flowing from hence.
1 Why ſhould we meddle with any thing that is diſtaſtful to Chriſt Page 93
2 Why ſhould we not be contented with our condition whatſoever it be ib.
3 Why ſhould we not venture upon any ſervice of God all though it be beyond our ſtrength Page 94
Exhortation.
Labor to get a ſhare in this great mercy Page 95
SERMON V
Gal. 2.20.
Doctrine
Chriſt hath a greater hand in the ſpiritual actions of a beleever than himſelfe hath. Page 98
Explication
1 Chriſt liveth in each Beleever ibid
Object.
What need then have they of Ordinances?
Anſwered Page 100
Object.
What need of Teaching?
Anſwered Page 102
2 How it may appear that Chriſt liveth ſo in each Beleever, that he hath a greater hand in his actions than himſelf
1 By ſcripture Page 104
2 By inſtances, in our
1 Converſion Page 105
2 Performences ib.
3 Obedience Page 106
4 Suffering ib.
5 Aſſurence ib.
Reaſon
Becauſe man ſhould not have wherein to boaſt Page 106
Objection.
Surely there are few beleevers in the world
Anſwered Page 107
Queſtions propounded
1. What doth ordinarily ſway the great actions of your lives? Page 108
2. Do you find a ſecret diſpoſition to all the Commandements of God? ib.
3. Do you find your ſouls carried to what is good beyond your own diſpoſition? Page 109
4. Do you find your ſoul is carried to what is good beyond what is intended? ib.
5. Were you never perſwaded that Chriſt lived in you? Page 110
Practical Meditations.
1. Now I ſee the in-being of Chriſt in the ſoul is no fancy Page 112
2. Here's a vaſt difference between a godly and a wicked man ibid
3. What deſperateneſs is it to oppoſe the Saints of God ibid
4. What an evil it is for a Saint to ſay his duties are hypocriſie Page 113
5. What reaſon a beleever hath to be thankeful to God ibid
6. What an engagement here is for a poor beleever to come to duty though his heart be dead ibid
7. What heavenly lives beleevers ſhould lead Page 114
8. We all ſhould admire the infinite love of Chriſt ibid
THE CONTENTS Of the WOMAN Of CANAAN &c. On Matthew, 15.21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
DIviſion of the text
1. From whence Chriſt came Page 198
Obſervation
None more rigorous oppoſers of of the Goſpel than learned men Page 199
2. Whither he went ib.
Obſervation
The wonderful diſpenſation of God Page 200
3. The plaintive, a woman Page 201
Obſervation
If faith be true it laies aſide all ones own righteouſneſs
4. Her firſt temptation Page 202
Obſervation
It is no new thing for beleevers to have no preſent viſible anſwer of their prayers Page 204
If this temptation fall upon you, do as ſhe did
1. ſhe ſtill acknowledgeth he was able to help her ib.
2. That it is his Office to help ib.
3. She doth not reſt upon her own duty ib.
4. She propounds her miſery ib.
5. She continues praying Page 205
5. Her ſecond Temptation ib.
Obſervation
1. A mans temptations may riſe higher after prayer, and yet he pray aright Page 206
2. Gods dealing with man may ſometimes run croſs to his promiſe ib.
3. Gods people may be tempted about their election ib.
4. When a Saint is ſo tempted, his beſt way is to lay by diſpute and fly to mercy ib.
5. As temptations ariſe ſo ſhall faith increaſe ib.
6. Her third Temptation Page 207
Obſervation
It is no new thing for beleevers to have their unworthineſs objected to them ib.
Her anſwer Page 208
Obſervations.
1. You cannot ſpeak ſo meanly of a beleever but he ſpeaks as meanly of himſelf ib.
2. A true beleever thinks honorably of Jeſus Chriſt even then when he ſuffers the greateſt reproaches to be caſt upon him ib.
3. True ſaith finds out a promiſe even in the very refuſal ib.
4. The leaſt of Chriſt is highly prized with a true beleever Page 209
5. Faith riſeth above our nature ib.
Hence you ſee if you be tempted with conſideration of your own unworthineſs, how to give an anſwer to thoſe temptations ib.
7. Her victory Page 210
Queſtion
Why doth Chriſt rather commend her faith than her other graces?
Anſwer
Faith commends Chriſt above all other graces ib.
If the Lord Jeſus commend faith ſo much, then labor to ſtrengthen faith ib.
Obſervation
The ſtrength of faith doth not lie in the aſſurance of our ſalvation Page 211
How many have ſtrong faith that think they have no faith at all ib.
Leſſon
We ought to beleeve in the face of all diſcouragment Page 212
Objections Anſwered Page 213
THE CONTENTS OF CHRISTS COMING &c. On MATTHEW, 25.6.
TEXT opened Page 2
Doctrine
Chriſt comes at midnight Page 5
Explication
1 Chriſt will come again ib.
2. How it may appear that Chriſt will come at midnight
1. When he comes with converting grace he comes at midnight Page 7
2. When he comes with comforting mercy he comes at midnight Page 8
3. When he comes with outward deliverances he comes at midnight Page 9
4. At his laſt coming he will come at midnight ib.
Reaſons
1. Chriſt loves his people ſhould watch for him Page 9
2. He would not have them be proud of mercies Page 10
3. He loves to come ſo, as he may be moſt welcom ib.
Application 1.
This Doctrine looks wiſhly upon ſuch
1. as Chriſt comes againſt Page 11
2. as Chriſt comes for Page 13
Duties flowing from this Doctrine
1. Truſt in the Lord for ever Page 14
2. Why ſhould thoſe that are employed for Chriſt, be unconſtant becauſe of oppoſition Page 15
3. Why ſhould we not go meet him with ſome preſent of thankfulneſs Page 16
Application 2.
Then his perſonal coming is not far off Page 19
Wakening obſervations
1. A moſt deſperate ſleep is to come upon all profeſſors immediately before the great coming of Chriſt Page 20
Deſperate becauſe
1. Ʋniverſal ib.
2. In the midſt of trouble Page 21
2. They ſhall never wake again till Chriſt come ibid
3. There are two ſorts of ſleepers
ſome keep their oyle Page 22
ſome ſpend their oyle Page 22
THE CONTENTS Of the SAINTS HIDING-PLACE &c. On ZEPHANIAH, 2.3.
TEXT Opened. Page 2
Doctrine 1
God hath his daies of Anger. Page 5
Application 1
It is not unlawful to be angry Page 7
Applic. 2
How infinitly are our ſouls bound to Jeſus Chriſt by whom we are delivered from the wrath to come Page 8
Applic. 3
What juſt cauſe there is why godly and faithful Preachers ſhould be ſent into all places of the Kingdom Page 9
Doct. 2
In the dayes of wrath God is exceeding willing to hide his own people Page 11
Object.
How is it ſo many of his dear ſervants have faln in theſe late wars Anſwered Page 12
Applic.
Behold a ſhelter in time of a ſtorm Page 13
Whom God hath by promiſe engaged to hide,
1 Thoſe that hide the Saints of God Page 14
2 Thoſe that keep the word of Gods patience Page 15
3 Thoſe that fear not the fears of men ibid
4 Thoſe that are flouriſhing in Religion, notwithſtanding oppoſition Page 16
5 The meek of the earth ib.
Doct. 3
Though God be willing to hide his people, yet many times he leaves them at great uncertainties Page 17
Doct. 4
When Gods wrath is abroad and his people know not what will become of them, then eſpecially it is their duty to ſeek God Page 19
Object.
But the wrath of God is pacified towards us
Anſwered
I would it were
Three Reaſons why it is not
1 The plague is begun Page 20
2 We are ſo angry one with another ib.
3 The former ſins God hath been puniſhing for all this while, live ſtil amongst us
Viz. 1 Idolatry, and Superſtition Page 21
2 Oppoſition to the Saints ib.
3 Oppreſſion and Injuſtice ib.
Queſtion
What ſhall we do in this caſe?
Anſwered
1 Seek the Lord Himſelf Page 24
2 Seek Righteouſneſs
1 The Righteouſneſs of Chriſt ib.
2 Righteouſneſs in oppoſition to Oppreſſion and Injuſtice Page 25
3 Righteouſneſs in ſeeking the Truth Page 27
Only in ſeeking this part of Righteouſneſs, obſerve theſe Rules
1 Do not deſpiſe any Truth becauſe 'tis old, nor neglect any Truth becauſe it is new ib.
2 Be as plain and open-hearted as you can ib.
3 Reſt not upon any means though never ſo great, nor deſpiſe any means though never ſo ſmal Page 28
4 Look not for grapes among thorns ib.
5 Do not ſo hold the greater, as to neglect the leſs; and do not ſo ſeek the leſs as to forget the greater Page 29
3 Seek meekneſs Page 30
Doct. 5
If any man can do any good in the day of Gods Anger, either for himſelf or others, It is the meek of the earth Page 30
1 They have the promiſe ib.
2 They moſt honor Chriſt ib.
3 They leave their cauſe to God Page 31
4 They are moſt fit for Gods ſervice ib
Applic.
How little is this Nation beholding to thoſe that are of a frow ard and perverſe ſpirit. Page 31
Exhortation
To meek ones, go to God, improve your intereſt. Page 33
The Titles of the firſt and ſecond Volumns of the Works of Mr. WILLIAM BRIDGE, lately pupliſhed.
I. The great Goſpel-Myſterie of the Saints Comfort and Holineſs, opened and opplied from Chriſts Prieſtly-Office.
II. Satans power to Tempt; and Chriſts love to, and care of his people under Temptation.
III. Thankefulneſs required in every condition.
IV. Grace for Grace; or, The overflowings of Chriſts fulneſs received by all Saints.
V. The Spiritual actings of Faith through Natural Impoſſibilities.
VI. Evangelical Repentance.