A09950:343
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.
A man must be brought to have a present apprehension of death, and of the wrath of GOD, and damnation, or else he will not lay hold on the Horns of the Altar; as Joab, when he saw that Solomon would slay him indeed, and take away his life, then he lays hold on the Horns of the Altar, and would not let go; so when a man sees present death, he will keep close to Christ, 1and till this be wrought, a man may take Christ, but his faith will be uneffectuall, because indeed, till a man be soundly humbled, he never accounts and reckons sin to be the greatest evil; and till he do that, he never accounts CHRIST to ⟨p. 17⟩be the greatest good, and if a man do not reckon CHRIST to be the chief good of all other, there will be somewhat propounded, which will be esteemed before him, and when that comes, he lets go CHRIST. But when there is a sound humiliation, which makes a man prize CHRIST above all other things, then faith proves effectual; that is, a man holds out, he goes through with the work, he cleaves so to Christ, as that he will not part with him: but for want of this, because mens hearts are not circumcised, because way is not made, because the Mountains are not brought down, because the Ministry is not sharp enough to prepare them, hence it is that their faith is vain, and comes to nothing.
A man must be brought to haue a present apprehension of death, and of the wrath of GOD, and damnation, or else he will not lay hold on the Hornes of the Altar; as Ioab, when he saw that Salomon would slay him indeed, and take away his life, then hee layes hold on the Hornes of the Altar, and would not let goe; so when a man sees present death, he will keepe close to Christ, 1and till this bee wrought, a man may take Christ, but his faith will be vneffectuall, because indeed, till a man be soundly humbled, he neuer accounts and reckons sinne to be the greatest euill; and till he doe that, he neuer accounts CHRIST to ⟨p. 17⟩bee the greatest good, and if a man doe not reckon CHRIST to bee the chiefe good of all other, there will be somewhat propounded, which will bee esteemed before him, and when that comes, he lets goe CHRIST. But when there is a sound humiliation, which makes a man prize CHRIST aboue all other things, then faith proues effectuall; that is, a man holds out, hee goes thorow with the worke, he cleaues so to Christ, as that he will not part with him: but for want of this, because mens hearts are not circumcised, because way is not made, because the Mountaines are not brought downe, because the Ministrie is not sharpe enough to prepare them, hence it is that their faith is vaine, and comes to nothing.