A09950:512
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 now, what thou dost for the things of this life: Saith CHRIST, Math. 6.1 Oh you of little saith! Why so? What was the sign of a little faith? Saith CHRIST, Doest thou think that he will clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the Oven? Doest thou think that he will provide for the young Ravens that call upon him, and wilt thou not believe that he will do so for thee? If thou do not believe this, thy faith is nothing. If thou believe little, thy faith is little. Consider that, consider how you carry your selves for the things of this life: do you think that GOD will do the main, and will not do the less? Do you think that he will give you Christ, and will he not give you other things? The same faith, that takes hold of the main promise, is it not ready to take hold of the less, and to depend upon it? GOD is able to do the greatest, and is he not able to do the less? Therefore, I say, in such a case, as CHRIST saith, Joh. 3.12.2 to Nicodemus, […] (saith he) I come and tell you of earthly things, and you believe me not, how would you believe, if I should tell you of heavenly things? So I say, if you will not believe GOD concerning earthly things, when he promiseth these, how will you believe him for the greatest matters of salvation? How will you ⟨p. 117⟩believe in him for the giving of CHRIST? How will you believe in him for the raising of you up at the last day? Therefore, consider whether you be able to do this or no: and know, that if there be faith, if you have faith for the main, you will have faith in particular cases.
Consider now, what thou dost for the things of this life: Saith CHRIST, Math. 6.1 Oh you of little saith! Why so? What was the signe of a little faith? Saith CHRIST, Doest thou thinke that hee will cloathe the grasse of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the Ouen? Doest thou thinke that he will prouide for the yong Rauens that call vpon him, and wilt thou not beleeue that he will doe so for thee? If thou doe not beleeue this, thy faith is nothing. If thou beleeue little, thy faith is little. Consider that, consider how you carry your selues for the things of this life: doe you thinke that GOD will doe the maine, and will not doe the lesse? Doe you thinke that he will giue you Christ, and will he not giue you other things? The same faith, that takes hold of the maine promise, is it not ready to take hold of the lesse, and to depend vpon it? GOD is able to doe the greatest, and is hee not able to doe the lesse? Therefore, I say, in such a case, as CHRIST saith,