A09950:457
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.
Consider but how it is with your selves; If a man should do any thing for you, you know, he may have many other ends, he may do you many a great good turn; yet, if you be persuaded this comes not out of love to me, nor of true respect to me, you regard it not, whatsoever it be. If it be but a small thing, if it be done out of love, you respect it. So it is with GOD; works that come from faith and love, (for those I reckon to be all one) those he respects wondrously. Therefore we should learn to judge aright of our works; it will help us against that position of the Papists, and also against the common opinion of men.
Consider but how it is with your selues; If a man should doe any thing for you, you know, hee may haue many other ends, hee may doe you many a great good turne; yet, if you be perswaded this comes not out of loue to me, nor of true respect to me, you regard it not, whatsoeuer it bee. If it bee but a small thing, if it be done out of loue, you respect it. So it is with GOD; workes that come from faith and loue, (for those I reckon to be all one) those he respects wondrously. Therefore we should learne to iudge aright of our workes; it will helpe vs against that position of the Papists, and also against the common opinion of men.
Every man thinks that Alms-deeds, doing good to the poor, and doing glorious things, &c. that these are good works, when ⟨p. 84⟩as common actions they exclude,1 as if they were not good works: But it is not so; we may do the greatest works of this nature, and yet they may have no excellency in them at all.
Euery man thinkes that Almes-deeds, doing good to the poore, and doing glorious things, &c. that these are good workes, when ⟨p. 84⟩as common actions they exclude,1