A09950:405
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.
And there is good reason why no faith should be accepted of GOD, but that which is effectual.
And there is good reason why no faith should be accepted of GOD, but that which is effectuall.
First, because otherwise it is not faith at all, if it be not effectual;1 and if it be not faith, it is no wonder that he doth not accept of it. I say, it is no more faith, then a dead man is said to be a man: you give the name of a man to him, yet he is not a man; no more is faith that is not effectual, any faith; it hath only the name of faith, and there is no more in it: but as dead Drugs, which have no efficacy in them, or as dead Plants, or dead Wine, which is turned to Vinegar,2 it ceaseth to be Wine, it is no longer Wine, but Vinegar; so it may be said of ineffectual faith, it is not faith, it hath the name and the shadow of faith only, and therefore God accepts it not.
First, because otherwise it is not faith at all, if it be not effectuall;1 and if it be not faith, it is no wonder that he doth not accept of it. I say, it is no more faith, then a dead man is said to be a man: you giue the name of a man to him, yet he is not a man; no more is faith that is not effectuall, any faith; it hath only the name of faith, and there is no more in it: but as dead Drugges, which haue no efficacie in them, or as dead Plants, or dead Wine, which is turned to Vinegar,2 it ceaseth to be Wine, it is no longer Wine, but Vinegar; so it may be said of ineffectuall faith, it is not faith, it hath the name and the shaddow of faith onely, and therefore God accepts it not.
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