A09950:477
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.
Again,1 when all thy heart shall come in, that is, when the understanding of a man is fully persuaded of these promises, that they ⟨p. 98⟩are true, and that it is best for him to take CHRIST, if the persuasion be good, and the will follow: for that you may take for a sure rule, there is no man that is fully persuaded, and convinced every way that such a thing is best, but the will will follow. If the mind be right, the will will follow, and if the will follow, be sure the affections will follow. For, if a man wills a thing in good earnest, and resolve, I would have it indeed, then his desires will come and be earnest; and if he be in doubt, fear will come; and if any thing hinder, anger will come and thrust away the impediments: and if he get the thing, there will be rejoicing; and so all the affections will follow; and then certainly, action and endeavour will follow. There is no man that desires a thing earnestly, but where the affections are strong and busy, action and endeavour will be answerable. Now, if thou take CHRIST with all thy heart, that there is no reservation, that it is not done by halves, then thou mayest have him, and the fruits, and all the privileges by him, so as thou shalt be saved by him. Consider whether this be done, or no.
Againe,1 when all thy heart shall come in, that is, when the vnderstanding of a man is fully perswaded of these promises, that they ⟨p. 98⟩are true, and that it is best for him to take CHRIST, if the perswasion be good, and the will follow: for that you may take for a sure rule, there is no man that is fully perswaded, and convinced euery way that such a thing is best, but the will will follow. If the mind be right, the will will follow, and if the will follow, be sure the affections will follow. For, if a man wils a thing in good earnest, and resolue, I would haue it indeed, then his desires will come and be earnest; and if hee be in doubt, feare will come; and if any thing hinder, anger will come and thrust away the impediments: and if he get the thing, there will be reioycing; and so all the affections will follow; and then certainely, action and endeuour will follow. There is no man that desires a thing earnestly, but where the affections are strong and busie, action and endeuour will be answerable. Now, if thou take CHRIST with all thy heart, that there is no reseruation, that it is not done by halues, then thou mayest haue him, and the fruites, and all the priuiledges by him, so as thou shalt be saued by him. Consider whether this be done, or no.