A09950:1059
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.
First, as that indeed is the beginning of every mans renewing, there must be a knowledge, a man must be enlightened, he must be renewed in the spirit of his mind, as the Apostle saith. Now if the knowledge be right, if it be a convicting knowledge, a sanctifying knowledge, a knowledge to purpose, it will draw on affections, it cannot choose, they are never separated: you are never truly enlightened by Gods spirit, but affections follow necessarily, and then if the affections be right, if knowledge draw on holy affections, love, and fear, and desires, &c. affections are the immediate principles of actions, there is no man that hath right affections, but good works will follow: so that these three are never disjoined, sanctified knowledge draweth on holy affections, and holy affections draw on ⟨p. 190⟩good actions:1 as ye have it in Matth. 13.5. Their hearts are waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and why? you shall see the chain there, lest seeing with their eyes they should understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I should heal them: Mark it, if they should see with their eyes, the Lord hath given them up to judge amiss of things, that seeing they do not see, that is, they see not to purpose, they are not convinced, they do not judge; for if they did see with their eyes, that is, if they did see indeed, they would have understood with their hearts, their affections would follow in their hearts, and if they were set aright, then they would be converted, that is, their lives would be turned to God; and if these three were done he must needs heal them: but saith God, I am resolved not to heal them: therefore they shall see as if they did not see, for these will draw on one the other. So I say, if the heart were right, if there were faith and love, good works would follow: therefore let no man say he hath grace, he hath love and faith, except his life also be holy and good.
First, as that indeede is the beginning of every mans renewing, there must be a knowledge, a man must be enlightened, hee must be renewed in the spirit of his minde, as the Apostle saith. Now if the knowledge bee right, if it bee a convicting knowledge, a sanctifying knowledge, a knowledge to purpose, it will draw on affections, it cannot chuse, they are never separated: you are never truly enlightened by Gods spirit, but affections follow necessarily, and then if the affections be right, if knowledge draw on holy affections, love, and feare, and desires, &c. affections are the immediate principles of actions, there is no man that hath right affections, but good workes will follow: so that these three are never disjoyned, sanctified knowledge draweth on holy affections, and holy affections draw on