A09950:473
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.
First,1 if it be true, it purifies the heart: in Acts 15.9. saith the Apostle Peter there, God hath put no difference between us and them, 2after that by faith he had purified their hearts. So in Acts 26.18.3 And thou shalt preach forgiveness of sins to those that are sanctified by faith. So that this you must take as a sure rule: If thy faith be true, it purifies ⟨p. 94⟩thy heart, it sanctifies thee. And therefore you see,4 faith and repentance are always put together. Repent and believe: for they are never disjoined. If thou find the work of repentance be not wrought throughly & soundly in thee,5 if thou find thy heart not purified, if thou be not sanctified, if there be not a sanctified disposition in thee, be sure it is a delusion, it is not faith: or, if faith be (as you heard heretofore) a taking of CHRIST, not as a Saviour only,6 but as a Priest; and not as a Priest only, but as a King too, it must §2needs be that there must be real obedience, or else it is not faith,7 thou hast not taken him: If there be nothing but a mere assent, as the Papists affirm in another case; For faith is a taking of Christ, and a giving of our selves to him again; so that there is a match, there is a bargain, a Covenant between us, as he saith in Heb. 8.8.