A09950:559
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.
And again, if thou use not Faith, thou shalt have little enough of it; the using of it is that which strengthens Faith. It is Gods usual manner, when he gives Faith to a man, to give him exercise, to keep his Faith breathing, as it were; he will be sure to have somewhat wherein he will put him to it, ⟨p. 141⟩some tribulation, he will put fire to it, to cleanse it, And therefore we should learn to make use of our Faith, to set it on work.
And againe, if thou vse not Faith, thou shalt haue little enough of it; the vsing of it is that which strengthens Faith. It is Gods vsuall manner, when he giues Faith to a man, to giue him exercise, to keepe his Faith breathing, as it were; hee will be sure to haue somewhat wherein hee will put him to it, ⟨p. 141⟩some tribulation, he will put fire to it, to clense it, And therefore we should learne to make vse of our Faith, to set it on worke.
It is a general Rule in all things, and as true in this, If a man have an estate, what is he the better to have it, if he do not use it? To have a friend, what is a man the better if he do not use him? Shall a man be a Favourite of a Prince, and get nothing by it? Faith makes a man a Favourite of GOD, a friend to GOD; and will you make no use of GOD? It is that which he expects at your hands; will you have GOD in vain? Shall he be your GOD, and will you make no use of his power, of his wisdom, of his ability to hold you up, to help you upon all occasions? You should make use of him; all that is his, is yours, if you make use of it by faith.
It is a generall Rule in all things, and as true in this, If a man haue an estate, what is he the better to haue it, if he doe not vse it? To haue a friend, what is a man the better if he doe not vse him? Shall a man be a Fauourite of a Prince, and get nothing by it? Faith makes a man a Fauourite of GOD, a friend to GOD; and will you make no vse of GOD? It is that which he expects at your hands; will you haue GOD in vaine? Shall hee be your GOD, and will you make no vse of his power, of his wisdome, of his ability to hold you vp, to helpe you vpon all occasions? You should make vse of him; all that is his, is yours, if you make vse of it by faith.