A09950:1070
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.
1To this I answer, that it is true they do so, but yet we must know that it is not they that do it,2 but the good that dwelleth in them, as the Apostle speaks in Rom. 7. which may be implied on the contrary; when any regenerate man finneth, it is not he that doth it,3 but the sin that is there; that is, it is not the master of the house, but a rebel that is crept in by accident: so I say of every evil man that doth that which is good and right, it is not he that doth it, but some good that is there. For it is one thing for a man to have good things in him,4 and another thing to be a good man, he may do some things sometimes for a fit that are good, Gods Spirit may be there to help him to do much; I say not that the Spirit dwells there, but he may take up his lodging for a time, and from him he may have common assistance, common gifts that may enable him to do much: Therefore I deny not but those ⟨p. 197⟩may have many good flashings of lightning that may enable them to do much; only this we say, The Day-spring from on high never visited them, that is, the morning never riseth upon them, to guide their feet in the way of peace, for that is proper to the Saints; they never have any constant light that leadeth them so far as to bring them in: they have some lightnings indeed that guide them in this or that particular, to help them in a step or two, to enable them to do many good actions by fits, but not to bring them to perfection.
1To this I answer, that it is true they doe so, but yet we must know that it is not they that doe it,2 but the good that dwelleth in them, as the Apostle speakes in Rom. 7. which may be implyed on the contrary; when any regenerate man finneth, it is not he that doth it,