A09950:1027
The Breastplate of Faith and Love
The breast-plate of faith and love. A treatise, wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good works, is explained. / Delivered in 18 sermons upon three several texts, by the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The breast-plate of faith and love. A treatise, wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good workes, is explained. / Delivered in 18 sermons upon three severall texts, by the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by W. Jones for Nicolas Bourne, 1630London: printed by W. Iones for Nicolas Bourne, 1630
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
You will say, wherein should our love be diligent.
1I answer, you must be diligent in preparing for the Lords coming, that you may receive the King of glory, 1that he may enter into your hearts, for there is a diligence of love in that; to do as ⟨p. 173⟩John Baptist came to do, to prepare the way of the Lord, what was that? To bring down the mountains, and to raise up the valleys, that is, those high thoughts, those high lusts that stand in opposition against the Lord, that bar the door against him, that will not let him enter into your hearts, bring down those mountains: again, the valleys must be raised up, that God may come and dwell in your hearts; the diligence of love is showed in opening to the Lord when he knocks, that when a thing shall be suggested to you, it is for the Lords advantage to embrace it, for it is the nature of true love, it enlargeth and wideneth the heart.
1I answer, you must be diligent in preparing for the Lords comming, that you may receive the King of glorie, 1that he may enter into your hearts, for there is a diligence of love in that; to doe as ⟨p. 173⟩Iohn Baptist came to doe, to prepare the way of the Lord, what was that? To bring downe the mountaines, and to raise up the valleyes, that is, those high thoughts, those high lusts that stand in opposition against the Lord, that barre the doore against him, that will not let him enter into your hearts, bring downe those mountaines: againe, the valleyes must be raised up, that God may come and dwell in your hearts; the diligence of love is shewed in opening to the Lord when hee knockes, that when a thing shall be suggested to you, it is for the Lords advantage to embrace it, for it is the nature of true love, it enlargeth and wideneth the heart.