A09950:581
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.
One is, thou art sealed by the Spirit; that is, there is a secret witness of the Spirit, the sealing of the Spirit to the day of Redemption; the hidden Manna, the secret witness that GOD gives to every mans heart, as a privy Seal that GOD sets on thee,1 Grieve not the Spirit, by which ye are sealed to the day of Redemption. Now there is another seal, which is more manifest then this; as in 2 Tim. 2.19.2 The foundation of GOD remaineth sure, and hath this seal, The Lord knoweth who are his, and let every one that calleth upon the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity. That is, there is another seal that GOD sets upon you, whereby he enables you to depart from iniquity: This is a more open seal ⟨p. 154⟩then the other. If thou find that thou have put thy seal to GOD, to his promise, and thou findest again that he hath sealed thee by the inward witness of his Spirit, and hath sealed thee likewise by the fruit of amendment of life, with enabling thee to depart from iniquity; now what shouldst thou do then? Make no more question, take it for granted, that CHRIST belongs to thee, and thou to him; Trust perfectly to the grace revealed through Jesus Christ: A place that I have often named,3 2 Pet. 1.13. Trust perfectly in the favour; that is, in the free favour, in the free promise revealed through Jesus Christ; that is, Do not mince the matter, and say, it may be GOD will forgive me, or it may be he will not; but do it perfectly, let nothing be wanting, do it perfectly, that thy joy may be full; if thou do it by halves, if thou do it but in part, thou shalt have but imperfect joy.
One is, thou art sealed by the Spirit; that is, there is a secret witnesse of the Spirit, the sealing of the Spirit to the day of Redemption; the hidden Mannah, the secret witnesse that GOD giues to euery mans heart, as a priuie Seale that GOD sets on thee,1