A09950:1085
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.
1But you will say, alas what shall we do, it may be our callings give us no opportunity to do that which other mens callings do: if we might be Preachers, and have such and such business wherein we might only mind the things that belong to salvation, then it were easy.
1But you will say, alas what shall wee doe, it may be our callings give us no opportunity to doe that which other mens callings doe: if we might be Preachers, and have such and such businesse wherein wee might onely minde the things that belong to salvation, then it were easie.
- 1Object.
1My brethren, you must know that you shall find continual occasions of doing good actions every day,2 whatsoever your callings are. It is an ⟨p. 209⟩error among the Papists, to think that to give alms, to crucify the flesh and to use that hardly, to fast, and the like, that these are the only and the most glorious actions: they are exceeding wide;3 good actions are nothing else but to do the will of the Lord, and to bring forth fruit; the fruit of every tree in the orchard is but as the actions of every man; and then are the trees good to the husbandman, when they are full of fruit. Every action that you do is that fruit which God looks for, now that fruit is good works, that is pleasing to the gardener, to the husbandman: Therefore to do the Lords will is to do a good work. Now by this you may see what a large field you have for good works, in what calling soever you are set, though it be never so mean a place you have.