A09950:1060
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.
1Lastly, wheresoever there is faith and love, there is a change of nature; for you know that wheresoever they come, faith that is effectual, and love that followeth from faith it makes a man a new creature, they are the very things wherein a new ereature consists: Now when a mans nature is changed, it must needs be active, for that which is natural to a man, he doth without unevenness, there is no inequality in his doing it, he ⟨p. 191⟩doth it constantly, where there are natural principles of actions, the actions flow like water from a spring: indeed where the nature of a man is not changed, that is, where there is only good purposes and good desires, and no alteration of nature, there actions do not come as water from a spring, but as water from a pomp that is forced and extorted; but where there is a change of nature, there is no difficulty, a man doth it with facility and with desire, it is his meat and drink to do the will of God. Therefore I say good works will follow, there will be the same degree of holiness, of rectitude in your lives, in your actions, as there is of grace, as there is of faith and love in your hearts. And this is enough to make the point plain to you, the main business will be to make use of it, and to apply it to your selves.
1Lastly, wheresoever there is faith and love, there is a change of nature; for you know that wheresoever they come, faith that is effectuall, and love that followeth from faith it makes a man a new creature, they are the very things wherein a new ereature consists: Now when a mans nature is changed, it must needes be active, for that which is naturall to a man, he doth without unevennesse, there is no inequality in his doing it, he ⟨p. 191⟩doth it constantly, where there are naturall principles of actions, the actions flow like water from a spring: indeede where the nature of a man is not changed, that is, where there is onely good purposes and good desires, and no alteration of nature, there actions doe not come as water from a spring, but as water from a pompe that is forced and extorted; but where there is a change of nature, there is no difficultie, a man doth it with facility and with desire, it is his meate and drinke to doe the will of God. Therefore I say good workes will follow, there will be the same degree of holinesse, of rectitude in your lives, in your actions, as there is of grace, as there is of faith and love in your hearts. And this is enough to make the point plaine to you, the maine businesse will be to make use of it, and to apply it to your selves.