A09950:585
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, it may be GOD will lead thee through pleasant ways, and not through the way of the Philistines, (as when the people came out of Egypt, the Lord led them not by the way of the Philistines.) If GOD give thee peace and prosperity, now set Faith awork, that this peace and prosperity that thou hast, that it soften not, that it loosen not the sinews of thy mind, that it dissolve not thy strength: but keep thy faith, and hold thy strength, that thou be not drawn to sin against ⟨p. 157⟩GOD by such a condition. In all the turnings of a mans life, to be kept straight, a man must set his faith on work. It may be GOD will give thee peace for a time, take heed thou sit not down now and forget thy journey. As thou must not turn to the left hand, so thou must not turn to the right hand, but pass through all, that thou mayest approve thy self the servant of CHRIST in straits, in necessity, in tribulation, by the Armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; through honour and dishonour, by ill report and good report. That is, set Faith on work, in all the variety of conditions, to keep thee in the right way, that thou turn not out of it. It is faith that must do it: For example, put the case thou comest to Hesters condition; there was a turning of her mind, she had peace before, but when it comes to that, that she must venture her life for the Church, here she had use of faith. And so for Abraham, God bade him offer his son, he was at rest a great while before, but now GOD tries him what he will do; here is a turning of his life, here was an Exigent, here was use for his faith, he did it, faith turned him this way; Another man would have turned another way, that hath not faith. So when GOD calls Moses, he was quiet before in Pharaohs Court: now he must go to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, then what must he do in such a case? ⟨p. 158⟩The Text saith, he did it by faith; by faith he forsook the glory of Pharaohs Court, and chose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of GOD, then to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season. There be many hundreds of such cases that befall continually. I say, thou shouldst use thy faith now, that it should lead thee in the right way, in all these difficult cases: for this is the use of faith.
Againe, it may bee GOD will leade thee through pleasant wayes, and not through the way of the Philistims, (as when the people came out of Egygt, the Lord led them not by the way of the Philistims.) If GOD giue thee peace and prosperity, now set Faith aworke, that this peace and prosperity that thou hast, that it soften not, that it loosen not the sinewes of thy minde, that it dissolue not thy strength: but keepe thy faith, and hold thy strength, that thou be not drawne to sinne against