A09950:626
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.
So those wonders, those great acts which God did when men trusted in him, they are things which he doth daily now.
Therefore to answer punctually, because men do deceive themselves in that, when we exhort them to trust in GOD, they say still, we must use the means, I will give a threefold answer to it.
Therefore to answer punctually, because men doe deceiue themselues in that, when we exhort them to trust in GOD, they say still, we must vse the meanes, I will giue a threefold answer to it.
1It is true that GOD useth means, but they are means of his own providing,2 and §1not the means, many times, that thou pitchest upon. For thus far it is true, GOD doth it not but by means; that is, he doth things by second causes, he doth them not by an immediate hand of his own, though he be able to do it: But now what those causes are, thou knowest not. Therefore this set down, that GOD doth it by means of his own, and not by those means thou seest. It may be thou pitchest upon some particular means, and thinkest, surely it must be done by this: and because thou seest no other, thou thinkest, if that fail, all is spoiled: But it is not so; GOD will not do it by these, but GOD is so far from doing it, that his usual course is, when men have pitched upon particular means, and think surely the business must be brought to pass by this, or else all will fail; GOD many times useth not that, ⟨p. 179⟩but a means which thou never thoughtest of.