A09950:667
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.
1Yes, though thy heart be right, thou mayest ask amiss,2 out of mistake, out of want of judgement; thou must not think with thy self, because thy affection is strong to such a thing, therefore it is lawful for thee, and meet for thee to have it. There are many things which a little child asketh, which are not meet for him; a wise Father will not second his child in all that he affects and desires: thou must think that God will not do it in these cases. And therefore learn in such a case when thou comest to GOD for outward things, or for the measure of grace, or for the present use of grace (as you shall hear hereafter) it may be he answers thee not; yet thou must acknowledge GOD to be only wise. If we could remember that in 1 Tim. 1.19. ⟨p. 195⟩To the King only wise, be glory and immortality: we think our selves wise too, we think that we have some part of wisdom; but if we did believe that he were only wise, that is, if thou diddest believe that none were wise but he, thou wouldest be content to resign thy self unto him, let him do with thee what he will, although thou see no reason, yet thou wouldest be content. Therefore when thou comest to ask at Gods hands, thou shouldest be ready to say thus; LORD, I see no reason why this should not be good, and yet I may be deceived, I may be mistaken: Therefore I will not ask it absolutely; It may be the want of it is better for me then the enjoying of it; it may be, to be crossed in it, is better for me then to have success in it: thou art only wise, I am not able to judge: and therefore when we come to ask any thing of GOD, thus we should do. Paul, when he comes to ask the mortification of his fleshly lusts,3 2 Cor. 12. one would think he might have asked that absolutely, we cannot see how GOD should not hear that prayer, and yet in that case Paul was mistaken, GOD saw it was best to suffer that lust to continue upon him, and to contend with him; thou shalt not be free from this strong temptation; for, saith he, by this I will humble thee, thou shalt have a better grace then thou shouldest have if that lust were taken away: when Paul saw that the continuance of that