A09950:539
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, Doest thou love the Saints, those that are like him, those that are of such a disposition as God is of? Shall a man say he loves the purity and the holiness of GOD, which he hath not seen, which is hidden from his eyes, when he doth not love the holiness and the purity that he sees in his Saints? For there it is taught in a visible ⟨p. 127⟩manner in the creature, where you may see it more proportionable to you. It is a hundred times more easy to love godliness in the Saints, then in GOD himself, because he is remote far from us, and they are amongst us, and are visibly seen. Therefore, except thou love the Saints, which thou seest holiness in; except thou seest thy heart inwardly, to love them with a natural affection, as it were, that thou lovest them whether thou wilt or no, thou doest but pretend.
Againe, Doest thou loue the Saints, those that are like him, those that are of such a disposition as God is of? Shall a man say hee loues the purity and the holinesse of GOD, which hee hath not seene, which is hidden from his eyes, when he doth not loue the holinesse and the purity that hee sees in his Saints? For there it is taught in a visible ⟨p. 127⟩manner in the creature, where you may see it more proportionable to you. It is a hundred times more easie to loue godlinesse in the Saints, then in GOD himselfe, because hee is remote farre from vs, and they are amongst vs, and are visibly seene. Therefore, except thou loue the Saints, which thou seest holinesse in; except thou seest thy heart inwardly, to loue them with a naturall affection, as it were, that thou louest them whether thou wilt or no, thou doest but pretend.
Again, Doest thou love CHRIST? Art thou willing to part with any thing for his sake? Love is bountiful: Thou sayest thou lovest GOD: What if he will have some of thy wealth? What if he will have thy credit? What if he will have thy liberty for his sake? If thou love him, thou wilt be content to do it. Therefore, consider if faith have begotten such a love in thee, so that thou canst truly say, though thou hast not seen him, yet thou lovest him.