A09950:109
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.
Secondly,1 as it is by faith, that it might come by grace, so also that it might be sure, that the promise might be sure; if it had been any other way, it had never been sure: Put the case that GOD had put us upon the condition ⟨p. 44⟩of obedience, and had given us grace and ability, as he did to Adam, yet the Law is strict, and the least failing would have bred fears and doubts, and would have caused death. But now, when the righteousness that saveth us is wrought already by GOD, and offered to us by him, and offered freely, and that the ground of this offer is the sure Word of GOD, and it is not a conjectural thing, now we may build infallibly upon it: for unless faith have footing on the Word, we cannot say it is sure, all things else are mutable, and subject to change: therefore when GOD hath once said it, we may firmly rest in it, and it is sure. And this is the second reason why it is only by faith.
Secondly,1 as it is by faith, that it might come by grace, so also that it might be sure, that the promise might be sure; if it had been any other way, it had neuer beene sure: Put the case that GOD had put vs vpon the condition ⟨p. 44⟩of obedience, and had giuen vs grace and ability, as he did to Adam, yet the Law is strict, and the least fayling would haue bred feares and doubts, and would haue caused death. But now, when the righteousnesse that saueth vs is wrought already by GOD, and offered to vs by him, and offered freely, and that the ground of this offer is the sure Word of GOD, and it is not a conjecturall thing, now we may build infallibly vpon it: for vnlesse faith haue footing on the Word, wee cannot say it is sure, all things else are mutable, and subject to change: therefore when GOD hath once said it, we may firmely rest in it, and it is sure. And this is the second reason why it is onely by faith.
- 12. Reason.