A09950:175
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.
What was it that excluded the Jews? was it not an opinion of something they had of their own?
What was it that excluded the Iewes? was it not an opinion of something they had of their owne?
The Laodiceans, they thought they were rich and increased, and wanted nothing, therefore they never came to buy of CHRIST. That which a man thinks he hath already of his own, he will never be at the cost to buy; therefore that is the first thing that a man must do, he must think himself of no worth at all, he must be empty of all opinion and conceit of his own excellency.
The Laodiceans, they thought they were rich and increased, and wanted nothing, therefore they neuer came to buy of CHRIST. That which a man thinkes he hath already of his owne, hee will neuer bee at the cost to buy; therefore that is the first thing that a man must doe, hee must thinke himselfe of no worth at all, he must be empty of all opinion and conceit of his owne excellency.
But this is not all, although a man be persuaded of this, that he hath no worthiness in himself, yet if he think he is able to help himself, and can stand alone without GOD, he will not come to take CHRIST; and therefore this further is required, that a man see that he hath no ability to help himself, that all his redemption must come from CHRIST: for if you ask many men whether they have any opinion of worth in themselves, they will be ready to answer, No. What then is the reason that they come not to CHRIST? It is because they are in health and prosperity, and they can do it soon enough hereafter, they can yet for the present subsist without Christ; ⟨p. 73⟩