A09950:110
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.
1Thirdly, it is by faith, that it might be to all the seed, not only to those that are of the Law, but also to them which were strangers to the Law. If it had been by the Law, then salvation had been shut up within the compass of the Jews; for the Gentiles were strangers to the Law of GOD, they were unclean men, shut out from the Commonwealth of Israel; but when it is now freely propounded in the Gospel, and nothing is required but only faith to lay hold upon it, when there is no more looked for but believing, and receiving; hence it comes to be to all the seed: for Abraham himself, before he was circumcised, he was as a common man, the veil was not then set up; yet, even then, ⟨p. 45⟩his faith was imputed to him for righteousness.
1Thirdly, it is by faith, that it might bee to all the seede, not onely to those that are of the Law, but also to them which were strangers to the Law. If it had beene by the Law, then saluation had beene shut vp within the compasse of the Iewes; for the Gentiles were strangers to the Law of GOD, they were vncleane men, shut out from the Commonwealth of Israel; but when it is now freely propounded in the Gospell, and nothing is required but onely faith to lay hold vpon it, when there is no more looked for but beleeuing, and receiuing; hence it comes to be to all the seede: for Abraham himselfe, before he was circumcised, he was as a common man, the vaile was not then set vp; yet, euen then, ⟨p. 45⟩his faith was imputed to him for righteousnesse.
- 13. Reason
The last reason why it is of faith,1 is that no man might boast, that no flesh might rejoice in it self; for if it had been by any other means, by any thing done in our selves, we had had cause to rejoice in our selves, but, for this cause, saith the Apostle,