A09950:188
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.
This point we should especially look to, ⟨p. 77⟩not to rejoice in our selves, but in GOD: For, my beloved, we are all naturally exceeding apt to rejoice in our selves, we would fain find some excellency in our selves, every man is apt to reflect upon himself, and he would fain see some worth there that he might rejoice in; and if he be no body at all there, it is contrary to his nature to think that he shall be accepted: there is nothing in the world that we are so backward to as this. It was Adams fault in Paradise, whereas he should have trusted GOD, and have been wholly dependant upon him for all, he would needs know good and evil, he would have something of his own; and this was it that lost him all, and brought the curse upon him, because he would not be dependant.
This point we should especially looke to, ⟨p. 77⟩not to reioyce in our selues, but in GOD: For, my beloued, wee are all naturally exceeding apt to reioyce in our selues, wee would faine finde some excellencie in our selues, euery man is apt to reflect vpon himselfe, and hee would faine see some worth there that hee might reioyce in; and if he be no body at all there, it is contrary to his nature to thinke that he shall be accepted: there is nothing in the world that we are so backward to as this. It was Adams fault in Paradise, whereas hee should haue trusted GOD, and haue beene wholly dependant vpon him for all, he would needes know good and euill, he would haue something of his owne; and this was it that lost him all, and brought the curse vpon him, because hee would not bee dependant.
Now in the Gospel, GOD comes by a second means of saving men, and in this the LORD would have the creature to have nothing in himself to glory in, but man is hardly brought to this, but exalts and lifts up himself, and would fain have some worth and excellency of his own; but as long as we do thus, we cannot be saved: that is the argument that is used