A09950:396
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.
But, besides this, there is a third act of the Holy Ghost,3 by which he works it, and maketh this faith effectual, and that is the testimony that the Spirit gives to our spirits, telling us that these things are ours: when the heart is prepared by the Law, and when these things are so showed unto us, that we prize them, and long after them, yet there must be a third thing, that is, to take them to our selves, to believe that they be ours;2 and there needeth a work of the Spirit for this too: for, though the promises be never so clear, yet, having nothing but the promises, you will find that you will never be able to apply them to your selves: but when the Holy Ghost shall say, Christ is thine, and these things belong to thee, and GOD is thy Father; when the Spirit shall bear witness with our spirits, by an immediate work of his own, then we shall believe. This is necessarily required,3 and without this we shall not believe. It is true, the holiest man doth it two ways.
But, besides this, there is a third act of the Holy Ghost,3 by which hee workes it, and maketh this faith effectuall, and that is the testimonie that the Spirit giues to our spirits, telling vs that these things are ours: when the heart is prepared by the Law, and when these things are so shewed vnto vs, that wee prize them, and long after them, yet there must bee a third thing, that is, to take them to our selues, to beleeue that they be ours;2 and there needeth a worke of the Spirit for this too: for, though the promises be neuer so cleere, yet, hauing nothing but the promises, you will finde that you will neuer be able to apply them to your selues: but when the Holy Ghost shall say, Christ is thine, and these things belong to thee, and GOD is thy Father; when the Spirit shall beare witnesse with our spirits, by an immediate work of his owne, then we shall beleeue. This is necessarily required,3 and without this wee shall not beleeue. It is true, the holiest man doth it two wayes.