A09950:461
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.
1Where there is a true faith, there is a secret persuasion wrought in the heart, whereby GOD assures you that he is yours, and ⟨p. 85⟩you are his; as you have it, Reu. 2.17.2 To him that overcometh, will I give that hidden Manna, and a white stone with a new name written in it, that he only knows that receives it: (That is) That is one thing by which ye shall know whether you have true faith or no: Have you ever had any of that hidden Manna? (that is) Have you had such a secret persuasion, which hath been as sweet as Manna to you, which you have fed on, as they fed on Manna, 3which gives you life, as Manna gave life to them? Only he says it is a hidden Manna, it lies not abroad, others see it not, but it is Manna that your hearts secretly feed on. So that, wouldst thou know whether thou have faith? Hath GOD given thee such a stone with a new name written in it,4 that is the stone of absolution? As the manner was among the Athenians, among the old Grecians; that the sentence of absolution was given by white stones, as the sentence of condemnation was black stones: So (saith he) GOD will give him such a secret testimony that he is acquitted, that when he is called in question, (as they were, that they knew not whether they should dye or live; in that case, if they had the white stone, such a man was absolved: So, I say) Hath GOD given thee such a stone, with thy name upon it? Hath he given you such a stone, as you know in the secret of your heart, such as none knows, but God and your ⟨p. 86⟩self? (that is) Hath he ever opened the clouds? hath he ever showed himself to you? hath he cast a good look upon you? hath he made your hearts glad with the light of his countenance in his Beloved? (for such a secret work there is of the Spirit, by which GOD cheereth and comforteth the heart of a man: that is his manner in working faith. After the Law hath been a Schoolmaster to a man,