A09950:387
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.
You may think, when you see such general propositions as these, that Christ is offered to every creature under heaven, and that whosoever believeth shall be saved, you may think, I say, that it is easy to bring this home in particular, to say, Surely this pardon belongs to me. My Brethren, it is another thing for a man indeed to believe, for him to take CHRIST so as to deny himself for him, to take him so, as to mortify his lusts, so as to take up his cross, so as to obey CHRIST, to follow him in all things, this is a thing that no man is able to do, unless GOD enable him to it, with his almighty power. For the heart of every man, by nature, is so shut up against CHRIST, that it will give no entrance to him, he may stand and knock long enough; unless GOD himself shake off the bolts, and open the gates, and break open these everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in, we will not admit him, but keep him out.
You may thinke, when you see such generall propositions as these, that Christ is offered to euery creature vnder heauen, and that whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued, you may thinke, I say, that it is easie to bring this home in particular, to say, Surely this pardon belongs to mee. My Brethren, it is another thing for a man indeed to beleeue, for him to take CHRIST so as to deny himselfe for him, to take him so, as to mortifie his lusts, so as to take vp his crosse, so as to obey CHRIST, to follow him in all things, this is a thing that no man is able to doe, vnlesse GOD enable him to it, with his almighty power. For the heart of euery man, by nature, is so shut vp against CHRIST, that it will giue no entrance to him, he may stand and knocke long enough; vnlesse GOD himselfe shake off the bolts, and open the gates, and breake open these euerlasting doores, that the King of Glory may come in, we will not admit him, but keepe him out.
Every man naturally hath a hard heart, that cannot repent, that cannot turn from sin, he will be content perhaps to take Christ for a Saviour, but to take him so as to obey him, and fear him, so as to love him: this no man will do, or can do, unless the Holy Ghost enable him.
Euery man naturally hath a hard heart, that cannot repent, that cannot turne from sinne, he will bee content perhaps to take Christ for a Sauiour, but to take him so as to obey him, and feare him, so as to loue him: this no man will doe, or can doe, vnlesse the Holy Ghost enable him.