A09950:1045
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.
It may be so in outward show,1 but yet there is a curse upon them notwithstanding.2 Abimelech had the kingdom, yet there was a curse that never ceased till he was rooted out of the kingdom: The Israelites had the quails, but yet there was a curse with them: Ahab had the vineyard, but it was a curse to him. So all these things that are of themselves blessings and mercies in their own nature, yet if the Lord will mingle them with a curse, ye shall find no ease from them at all: and this is a thing that is well known by experience, if the hearts of men will speak what they know. This is the case of those that love not the Lord, The earth shall not give her increase, you shall not have that sound comfort, that sweetness, that influence of comfort from earthly blessings, though you have the creatures about you which naturally have blessings in them, yet they shall not give down that milk for your comfort, you shall not be satisfied with them, you shall see a constant emptiness in them, they shall be to you as the shell without the kernel; and so much more shall ye be miserable, because ye shall find the least comfort in them when you most expect it: the Lord meets thus with those that love him not in earthly blessings.
It may be so in outward shew,1 but yet there is a curse upon them notwithstanding.2 Abimelech had the kingdome, yet there was a curse that never ceased till hee was rooted out of the kingdome: The Israelites had the quailes, but yet there was a curse with them: Ahab had the vineyard, but it was a curse to him. So all these things that are of themselves blessings and mercies in their owne nature, yet if the Lord will mingle them with a curse, yee shall finde no ease from them at all: and this is a thing that is well knowne by experience, if the hearts of men will speake what they know. This is the case of those that love not the Lord, The earth shall not give her increase, you shall not have that sound comfort, that sweetnesse, that influence of comfort from earthly blessings, though you have the creatures about you which naturally have blessings in them, yet they shall not give downe that milke for your comfort, you shall not be satisfied with them, you shall see a constant emptinesse in them, they shall be to you as the shell without the kernell; and so much more shall ye be miserable, because ye shall finde the least comfort in them when you most expect it: the Lord meetes thus with those that love him not in earthly blessings.