A09950:1074
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.
If you object,1 but it is a rule that we have heard often, that the will is often taken for the deed, and if the will be present with us, though the action do not follow, yet we are accepted according the will.
If you object,1 but it is a rule that wee have heard often, that the will is often taken for the deed, and if the will be present with us, though the action doe not follow, yet wee are accepted according the will.
- 1Object.
To this I answer in brief,1 first, it holdeth only then where there is some impediment which you cannot remove:2 as for example, a man hath a desire to do good to such poor people,1 he hath a compassionate heart, he is willing to be bountiful, but he wants means to do it, in this case the Lord accepts the will for the deed; for upon that occasion is this delivered in this place by S. Paul: so it is in every thing else, when you have a desire, and there cometh some impediment that it is not in your power to remove, then the will is accepted for the deed. As when a man hath a desire to move his hands, his legs or arms, but because of a palsy that hangs upon him, he is not able to stir them, here the will is for the deed, he is not able to do it, though the ⟨p. 202⟩mind be right and the desire good; so when you come to such duties that are not in your power to do, when there are some impediments that you are not able to remove, here the will is accepted for the deed.