A09950:646
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.
OF EFFECTUAL FAITH. The sixth Sermon.
OF EFFECTVALL FAITH. The sixth Sermon.
1. THESS. 1.3. Remembering your effectual Faith, &c.
1. THESS. 1.3. Remembring your effectuall Faith, &c.
We have already answered one Objection, that God works by means; we showed after what manner: Well, if this be so, (before we leave the point) take heed you deceive not your selves; you commonly say, GOD works things by means: The saying is true, if thy heart be not false: for it is true, he works ⟨p. 186⟩things by means; but if such means come in competition, (as GOD hath not appointed, that which is unlawful for thee to do) if it come in competition with that which GOD hath set apart, in such a case thou must let such means go, else thou mayest use that means, but it is the means alone, thou shalt have no encouragement in the use of them. If thou hast means, encourage not thy self so much because of them, but because thou hast GOD for thy friend; Let not the rich man rejoice in his riches, nor the strong man glory in his strength, or the wise man joy in his wisdom, Jer. 10. but let him that glorieth and rejoiceth, 1rejoice in the Lord. If they could do a man good, we might rejoice in them: The Lord requires nothing but that which is reasonable; I dare be bold to declare it, that if the confidence in the strength of a man were able to do him good, he might rejoice in it. Therefore we see in that place, he saith, it comes of the Lord. As if he should say, We see by experience, when GOD will use them as instruments, it is otherwise, then they do that which of themselves they cannot; they do it no farther then GOD blesseth them, for else they hurt, and do no good to a man. Take heed therefore thy heart be not false, and deceive not thy self, that thou mingle by-respects in the business; but use the means, and depend and trust in God for the bringing it to pass; which thou shalt