A09950:1072
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.
indeed it is true in matter of art, he that omitteth wilfully may be the best artist, because there is no more required of him but skill, and it is but some error in him, it is the commendation ⟨p. 199⟩of his art that he erreth willingly: But now in matter of holiness and sanctity, there he that knoweth and doth not is the greatest fool: For wisdom consists most in that.1 Wisdom comprehends indeed these three: First, to invent, to see, to know and understand things. Secondly, to judge aright of things you know. Thirdly, to put in practise that which you have concluded to be the best, and this latter is the greatest part of prudence: Therefore those men that know, that can dispute well, that have clear understanding, and yet do nothing, they are the unwisest; again, those that can speak little, and perhaps have not such a treasure of knowledge as others, and yet can do more, they know more than the wisest. Therefore let us not misesteem those that are good Christians, and holy men, and set too high a price upon others; for there is an error under that, and it hath an ill consequent to judge of religion by the opinion of those that are only knowing men in religion: No, beloved, religion is the art of holy men,2 and not of learned men, and it was the custom of former times to judge of heresies not so much by disputes, as by the lives of those that have been the professors of them: and that Christ directs us to, You shall know them by their fruits: and what are those fruits? their fruits are their actions.
indeed it is true in matter of art, hee that omitteth wilfully may be the best artist, because there is no more required of him but skill, and it is but some errour in him, it is the commendation ⟨p. 199⟩of his art that hee erreth willingly: But now in matter of holinesse and sanctity, there hee that knoweth and doth not is the greatest foole: For wisedome consists most in that.1 Wisedome comprehends indeed these three: First, to invent, to see, to know and understand things. Secondly, to judge aright of things you know. Thirdly, to put in practise that which you have concluded to be the best, and this latter is the greatest part of prudence: Therefore those men that know, that can dispute well, that have cleare understanding, and yet doe nothing, they are the unwisest; againe, those that can speake little, and perhaps have not such a treasure of knowledge as others, and yet can doe more, they know more than the wisest. Therefore let us not misesteeme those that are good Christians, and holy men, and set too high a price upon others; for there is an errour under that, and it hath an ill consequent to judge of religion by the opinion of those that are onely knowing men in religion: No, beloved, religion is the art of holy men,