A09950:491
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.
Secondly,2 if thou wouldst know whether thy faith be true or no, consider whether thou hast this consequent of it, the Spirit of Prayer: for wheresoever there is a Spirit of faith, there is also a Spirit of prayer: that is, (mark ⟨p. 104⟩it, and you shall see the reason why I deliver this to be a sign of faith.) Faith, you know, is wrought in us by the Spirit of Adoption. Now what is the Spirit of Adoption,2 but the Spirit that tells you that ye are sons? as in Gal. 4.6.3 So many as are sons, receive the Spirit of sons. Now whensoever the Spirit tells a man he is a son; that is, works faith in his heart, the second thing that the Spirit doth, it teacheth him to pray: and therefore those words are added, that you cry Abba Father: that is, the Spirit never doth the one, but it doth the other; if it be the testimony of the Spirit. And therefore this is the second sign: If thou have such a persuasion that the Spirit have spoken to thee, if thou wouldest know whether this be a delusion or no, thou shalt know it by this: If thou have the Spirit, it will make thee able to cry Abba Father, 4it will make thee able to do two things.
Secondly,2 if thou wouldst know whether thy faith be true or no, consider whether thou hast this consequent of it, the Spirit of Prayer: for wheresoeuer there is a Spirit of faith, there is also a Spirit of prayer: that is, (marke ⟨p. 104⟩it, and you shall see the reason why I deliuer this to be a signe of faith.) Faith, you know, is wrought in vs by the Spirit of Adoption. Now what is the Spirit of Adoption,2