A09950:577
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.
5. Consider thou, that art in such a case, consider that his mercy is as large as any other attribute. Every man thinks that this is no news; what need you tell us that GOD is infinite in mercy? I say, this is a thing that thou dost not consider: if thou diddest, thou wouldest not stick upon it as thou doest, If thou diddest believe that GOD were as merciful as he is; but we scant GOD according ⟨p. 151⟩to our measure; we square Gods mercy according to our own thoughts. Every man measures Gods mercy, according to that which he can conceive. He thinks with himself, if a man commit one sin, it might be forgiven, but when his sins exceed, when they grow out of measure sinful, when they are sins so circumstantiated, as we say, that they are out of measure sinful, here a man stands at a stay: What is the reason of this? Because we draw a scantling of Gods mercy, according to our own conceits. Whereas, if we considered that his mercy were as large as any other attribute, then we would consider that it hath no limits: and if it have no limits, then whatsoever thy sins are, it is all one.
5. Consider thou, that art in such a case, consider that his mercy is as large as any other attribute. Euery man thinkes that this is no newes; what need you tell vs that GOD is infinite in mercy? I say, this is a thing that thou dost not consider: if thou diddest, thou wouldest not sticke vpon it as thou doest, If thou diddest beleeue that GOD were as mercifull as he is; but we scant GOD according ⟨p. 151⟩to our measure; we square Gods mercy according to our own thoughts. Euery man measures Gods mercy, according to that which he can conceiue. He thinkes with himselfe, if a man commit one sinne, it might be forgiuen, but when his sinnes exceede, when they grow out of measure sinfull, when they are sinnes so circumstantiated, as we say, that they are out of measure sinfull, here a man stands at a stay: What is the reason of this? Because we draw a scantling of Gods mercy, according to our owne conceits. Whereas, if we considered that his mercie were as large as any other attribute, then we would consider that it hath no limits: and if it haue no limits, then whatsoeuer thy sinnes are, it is all one.