A09950:425
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.
Again, if GOD accept no faith but that which is effectual, hence we may learn also not to believe all that say they have faith,1 nor to believe all those that say they have none. As for those that say they have no faith, yet, if we see the fruits of faith in them, that they ⟨p. 65⟩have those things that faith brings forth: If you see a man that complaineth he believeth not, yet if he love the Saints, if he endeavour to keep GODS Commandments, if he continue not in any known sin, if he do not dare to omit holy duties, nor to sleight them, certainly, this man hath faith: for we find the effects of it there: although he have lost one act of his faith, which is the comfortable assurance of a good estate; yet if the first act, by which he resteth upon Christ, 2and by which he taketh Christ to himself, be there, we may conclude there is faith.3 When we see smoke, and feel heat, we say, there is fire, though we see no flame: so, when we see these fruits in a man, we may boldly say, he hath faith, though he hath not such a reflect act,4 as to know in himself that he hath it, and so to have a comfortable assurance of his condition.
Againe, if GOD accept no faith but that which is effectuall, hence we may learne also not to beleeue all that say they haue faith,1 nor to beleeue all those that say they haue none. As for those that say they haue no faith, yet, if we see the fruites of faith in them, that they ⟨p. 65⟩haue those things that faith brings forth: If you see a man that complaineth he beleeueth not, yet if he loue the Saints, if he endeuour to keepe GODS Commandements, if he continue not in any knowne sinne, if hee doe not dare to omit holy duties, nor to sleight them, certainely, this man hath faith: for we finde the effects of it there: although he haue lost one act of his faith, which is the comfortable assurance of a good estate; yet if the first act, by which he resteth vpon Christ,