A09950:45
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.
I answer,1 In 2 respects: (not to run through all) The first is this, We say, Though CHRIST be offered, and freely given to all, yet GOD intends him only to the Elect. They say, His intention is the same to all, to Judas as to Peter. The other is, They affirm, that as CHRIST is offered to all men, so all men have sufficient grace to receive him, there is an ability by that aswell as a freedom, and universality in the offer. This we altogether deny. Though Christ be given to all, yet the gift of faith is a fruit of Election. God gives faith and repentance, and ability to receive him, where he pleaseth. ⟨p. 12⟩The gate is open to all, we shut out none; but none will come in, but those whom GOD enables. A Pardon may be offered to all, and yet none accept it, but those whose minds GOD hath inclined. Therefore that he is offered to all it is without question. They that question it, do it because they do not understand the Doctrine of our Divines; for we propound it no otherwise in substance then they do, only we differ in the method: but it will be your wisdom to look to that which will be of use, and yield comfort when you come to dye. As this you may build on, The Gospel is preached to every creature under heaven, & therefore I have my share in it. If a Pardon be offered to some, whose names alone are inserted therein, you cannot say on any good ground, I I am pardoned: but when the Pardon is general, and offered to all, then I can believe the Pardon belongs to me. Were it only to the Elect, whose names are written in the pardon, we should first enquire whether we be elect or no, but that's not the method. Build you on the sure promise, they that are pardoned, shall take hold of it, they that take not hold of it, shall be excluded.