A09950:1064
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.
For know this, though it be true as we see there may be actions where there is no sound heart, as the second and third ground brought forth a kind of fruit when there was neither of them right; hypocrites you know may go far, they may make a blaze as your comets do ⟨p. 193⟩more than the true stars:1 though this be true, that there may be abundance of good works where there is no rightness and soundness, no sincerity, no pureness within; yet again also on the other side, wheresoever there is sincerity there are good works, and though many times the outside be clean when the inside is not, yet the inside is never clean but the outside is clean too: And that is the thing we must examine our selves by; though it be not a good rule to say I have good works, therefore my heart is right, yet it is a good rule to say on the other side, I want good works, therefore my heart is not right; except there be a general reformation in your lives, except things be reformed that you know to be amiss. Indeed when it is not revealed to you, then there is something for you to say, but when you know that such a duty is to be done, that your speeches should be holy, that they should be seasoned with salt, that you ought to abstain from sins of all kinds, from all appearance, that you ought not to admit any kind of dalliance, not the least touch of any sin; now not to set your selves with all your might to reform this, this is a sure argument you are not right; for if the general frame of the heart be good, there will be a general reformation of the life. Therefore let no man say I purpose well, but in this particular infirmity I must be spared, to such a thing my nature is prone, and I am given to it, I cannot tell how to refrain it, and I hope it is not so great a matter; say not so, for if the ⟨p. 194⟩heart be right, the actions will be right and unblameable.
For know this, though it be true as wee see there may be actions where there is no sound heart, as the second and third ground brought forth a kinde of fruite when there was neither of them right; hypocrites you know may goe farre, they may make a blaze as your commets doe ⟨p. 193⟩