A09950:344
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.
Fifthly and lastly,1 the faith of men proves ineffectual, because it is not well grounded, they take to themselves a persuasion of the remission of their sins, upon an uncertain ground; they are not built upon the Rock, they take CHRIST, but they are not well bottomed: for there is a certain false persuasion, which is nothing else but a strong fancy, which makes a man to think that his sins are forgiven, and that he is in a good estate: but when it comes to examination, he can give no sound reason for it. When men take CHRIST on this manner, when they are persuaded their sins are remitted, and yet have no good ground for ⟨p. 18⟩this persuasion and peace, it holds not out, it continues not. Therefore to such as these Saint Paul speaks, Eph. 4.10.2 Be not children (saith he) in understanding, to be carried about with every wind of doctrine. As if he had said, Indeed you are such as have embraced CHRIST, but you must not do as children do, that being not able to use their own judgement, they see what other men do, and they hear what they say: but, saith he, you must learn to be men, that you may use your own understanding, that you may see with your own eyes, or else you will be like a Ship tossed and carried about with every wind. That is to say, it was a false persuasion that drave you to CHRIST, and another wind will drive you from him: therefore be not children in understanding. So, I say, when you have a persuasion of the remission of your sins, of believing in Christ, be not children in understanding, see that it be soundly grounded. That is a condition required by the Apostle, Colos. 1.23.3 CHRIST hath reconciled us to GOD the Father, to be blameless, and without fault. But (saith he) I must put in this condition, If you continue grounded, and stablished in the faith, that you be not moved from the hope of the Gospel. As if he should have said, There is a certain faith, by which you may take Christ, and so you may be persuaded of reconciliation; but, saith he, that will not do, ⟨p. 19⟩