A09950:342
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.
Now this circumcision is done by a certain work of preparation or humiliation, by which these strong lusts are broken in us: therefore, when men come to Christ, before the Law hath been a sufficient Schoolmaster ⟨p. 16⟩to them, before it hath indited them, before it have put them in prison, and told them that they must pay every farthing, (when a man comes to this, he seeth that he cannot do it, then he goeth to Christ, and beseecheth him to pay his debt,) before the Law have done this, men care not for Christ, they take him negligently, and therefore they hold him not. And for this it was, that before Christ came into the World, he would make way before him: so, before he will come into a mans heart, the Mountains must be brought down,1 the spirit of Elijah must make way; that is, there must be a sharp ministry to show men their sins, that they may be throughly humbled, and prepared, or else they will never take Christ so as to keep close to him.
Now this circumcision is done by a certaine worke of preparation or humiliation, by which these strong lusts are broken in vs: therefore, when men come to Christ, before the Law hath beene a sufficient Schoolmaster ⟨p. 16⟩to them, before it hath indited them, before it haue put them in prison, and told them that they must pay euery farthing, (when a man comes to this, hee seeth that hee cannot doe it, then he goeth to Christ, and beseecheth him to pay his debt,) before the Lawe haue done this, men care not for Christ, they take him negligently, and therefore they hold him not. And for this it was, that before Christ came into the World, he would make way before him: so, before he will come into a mans heart, the Mountaines must bee brought downe,1 the spirit of Elias must make way; that is, there must be a sharpe ministry to shew men their sinnes, that they may bee throughly humbled, and prepared, or else they will neuer take Christ so as to keepe close to him.
- 1The Spirit of Elijah, what.