A09950:366
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 before a man have felt how hard the yoke is that he hath already, (for there be many that wear the yoke of Satan, and see no hardness in it, but go in a fair course, their consciences are not wounded with the sense of their sins, they never had afflictions wherein they tasted the wrath of GOD) alas, such men may come to put their hand to the Plough, but when they come to see what work they have in hand, they go back, they are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. Till a man be weary, and heavy laden, with the burden of Satan, till he see Satan's yoke to be intolerable, he will never continue under the yoke of CHRIST: therefore let us consider whether we be fitted or no: this fitness is first required.
Now before a man haue felt how hard the yoake is that he hath already, (for there bee many that weare the yoake of Satan, and see no hardnesse in it, but goe in a faire course, their consciences are not wounded with the sense of their sinnes, they neuer had afflictions wherein they tasted the wrath of GOD) alas, such men may come to put their hand to the Plow, but when they come to see what worke they haue in hand, they goe backe, they are not fit for the Kingdome of Heauen. Till a man bee weary, and heauie laden, with the burthen of Satan, till hee see Satans yoake to bee intolerable, hee will neuer continue vnder the yoake of CHRIST: therefore let vs consider whether wee be fitted or no: this fitnesse is first required.
So again,2 we may take example from the Prodigal son, he was in his Fathers house, but he would not continue there, when he was there at the first, and lived as the other son did, because he had not been ⟨p. 32⟩abroad in the World, to find the misery of being away from his Father, he was never pinched with affliction, with want of meat, till he was from his Father, he never knew what it was to be at his Fathers finding, till he had his stock in his own hand; he was not fit, and, we see, he continued not there: So, take a man that is brought up in his Fathers House, as it were, that hath tasted nothing but the sweetness of the promises, and all is well with him, he hath drunk in the truth of the Gospel with his education,