A09950:542
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.
that is, those may rather hope, that that hope which they have, they may be so much the more confirmed in it, because they have some fear mingled with it.
that is, those may rather hope, that that hope which they haue, they may be so much the more confirmed in it, because they haue some feare mingled with it.
Therefore consider, whether thou have hope or no: Consider in what manner it is joined with faith. When thou believest that CHRIST is thine, that Heaven is thine, that thy sins are forgiven, and that thou art a son of GOD, but these things thou hast not yet, thou art as any other man, there is no difference between thee and them, thou hast no more in possession then other men, that walk with thee; now comes in Hope, and that expecteth that which is to come, that holds up thy head, as it were, that, though you have nothing at all for the present, yet that Hope will comfort you, that though you have troubles, and crosses, and a ⟨p. 130⟩thousand things more, to obscure and blot your faith, and the waves go over your head, that you are ready to be drowned, this hope holds you above the water, and makes you expect with comfort that which is to come: and not so only, but, I say, it is a lively hope, a hope that sets a man awork, a hope that purgeth him. For, you know, that that a man hopes for, he will endeavour to bring it to pass, it is such a hope as will not fail you, but will continue as well as Faith it self.
Therefore consider, whether thou haue hope or no: Consider in what manner it is joyned with faith. When thou beleeuest that CHRIST is thine, that Heauen is thine, that thy sinnes are forgiuen, and that thou art a sonne of GOD, but these things thou hast not yet, thou art as any other man, there is no difference betweene thee and them, thou hast no more in possession then other men, that walke with thee; now comes in Hope, and that expecteth that which is to come, that holds vp thy head, as it were, that, though you haue nothing at all for the present, yet that Hope will comfort you, that though you haue troubles, and crosses, and a