A09950:236
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 next thing to be done is this, to draw the will to take the promises; for, though the understanding rightly apprehend all that is delivered in the Word, yet except the will be bowed, except we incline, and be willing to embrace these offers, and willingly take Christ upon these conditions, the thing is not done; for, I say, justifying faith is as well in the will as in the understanding: for that which I deliver ⟨p. 102⟩now, is built upon that which I delivered before; and I speak chiefly to those that understand the premises, or else you will not fully understand that we are now about.
THe next thing to bee done is this, to draw the will to take the promises; for, though the vnderstanding rightly apprehend all that is deliuered in the Word, yet except the will bee bowed, except we incline, and be willing to embrace these offers, and willingly take Christ vpon these conditions, the thing is not done; for, I say, iustifying faith is as well in the will as in the vnderstanding: for that which I deliuer ⟨p. 102⟩now, is built vpon that which I deliuered before; and I speake chiefly to those that vnderstand the premises, or else you will not fully vnderstand that we are now about.
But seeing that the will hath a part in faith as well as the understanding, the second thing is to draw the will: But how is that done? This is the work of God, he only hath the sovereignty over the will and affections of a man, it is the great prerogative of GOD, when a business is to be done with the will and affections, GOD must persuade it, as in Noah's speech, God persuade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem: As if he should say, I may persuade in vain, except GOD put to his hand to the work: So it is the property of the Spirit to convince; as Joh. 16.1 The Spirit shall convince the World of sin and righteousness. That is, he shall show men their sins, and their need, and withal convince them, and persuade them to take Christs righteousness. Thus I say, it is GOD that draweth the will, it is he that puts a strong instinct into the heart of man, it is he that must work on the heart, as in