A09950:223
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.
The first is this, that the understanding must be rightly informed, what ground a man hath to do it; when a man comes to believe the forgiveness of his sins, let him not think, I have a persuasion that my sins are forgiven, therefore they are forgiven, but a man must labour to see the ground of it: for, a thing is not true because we are persuaded it is so; but the thing is first true, and then we believe it: GOD hath first offered forgiveness of sins to you, and then you look upon ⟨p. 95⟩his Word, and so believe it; But, I say, when a man is persuaded in a confused manner, without any just ground, without a clear knowledge of the progress of faith, how it goeth along, this is not right, this keepeth many from assurance, because they are not clearly instructed in it: For, to the end that faith may take hold of the promise, that it may be sure to us,1 we must conceive of the right method, and that stands in these four things.
The first is this, that the vnderstanding must be rightly informed, what ground a man hath to doe it; when a man comes to beleeue the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, let him not thinke, I haue a perswasion that my sinnes are forgiuen, therefore they are forgiuen, but a man must labour to see the ground of it: for, a thing is not true because wee are perswaded it is so; but the thing is first true, and then we beleeue it: GOD hath first offered forgiuenesse of sinnes to you, and then you looke vpon ⟨p. 95⟩his Word, and so beleeue it; But, I say, when a man is perswaded in a confused manner, without any iust ground, without a cleere knowledge of the progresse of faith, how it goeth along, this is not right, this keepeth many from assurance, because they are not cleerely instructed in it: For, to the end that faith may take hold of the promise, that it may be sure to vs,1 we must conceiue of the right method, and that stands in these foure things.
- 14. Things in the understanding.