A09950:439
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.
1We require good works with the same necessity; only they have a different rise, they rise from different grounds. When the Papists are asked what should move a man to do good works? They say it is by way of merit, to get heaven; and that is it that maketh all their works to be of no worth. For, take any natural man, he that hath the most impure heart, may not he, to escape Hell, and to get Heaven, do all the works the Papists require, and for the same end that they require them? May he not give Alms, &c.2 But to do it out of love, that is a thing that no Hypocrite is able to reach unto: And therefore we say, that the meanest work, even the giving of a Cup of cold water, is a good work, if it proceed from love: whereas, take the fairest work, that hath the greatest glory, and splendour, though it be Martyrdom; if it come not from love,3 if it be not a fruit of faith, if a man give his body to be burned, and give all that he hath to feed the poor, if it come not from love, GOD accepts it not. So much for the second Use.
1We require good workes with the same necessity; onely they haue a different rise, they rise from different grounds. When the Papists are asked what should moue a man to doe good workes? They say it is by way of merit, to get heauen; and that is it that maketh all their workes to be of no worth. For, take any naturall man, he that hath the most impure heart, may not he, to escape Hell, and to get Heauen, doe all the workes the Papists require, and for the same end that they require them? May he not giue Almes, &c.2 But to doe it out of loue, that is a thing that no Hypocrite is able to reach vnto: And therefore we say, that the meanest worke, euen the giuing of a Cuppe of cold water, is a good worke, if it proceed from loue: whereas, take the fairest worke, that hath the greatest glory, and splendour, though it be Martyrdome; if it come not from loue,3 if it be not a fruit of faith, if a man giue his body to be burned, and giue all that hee hath to feede the poore, if it come not from loue, GOD accepts it not. So much for the second Vse.