A09950:668
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.
I say, in such a case a man may be deceived, much more in outward things. You know, the Disciples, when they came to ask fire to come down from Heaven, they thought it was a zealous request; but CHRIST tells them that they were deceived, they knew not from what Spirit that request did come; If it had come from GODS Spirit, he would have heard it, but they were deceived: So if thou wouldest have GOD hear thy prayer, know whether they come from Gods Spirit, whether thy prayers be the voice of thine own spirit, or of Gods Spirit; if it be the voice of GODS Spirit, he hears it always, because it asks according to his will; our spirits may ask that which is good, but not that which is fit at this time.
I say, in such a case a man may be deceiued, much more in outward things. You know, the Disciples, when they came to aske fire to come downe from Heauen, they thought it was a zealous request; but CHRIST tels them that they were deceiued, they knew not from what Spirit that request did come; If it had come from GODS Spirit, hee would haue heard it, but they were deceiued: So if thou wouldest haue GOD heare thy prayer, know whether they come from Gods Spirit, whether thy prayers be the voyce of thine owne spirit, or of Gods Spirit; if it be the voyce of GODS Spirit, he heares it alwaies, because it askes according to his will; our spirits may aske that which is good, but not that which is fit at this time.
2Secondly, he will hear thee, but it may be, thou art not yet fit for the mercy, not because he doth not hear thy prayer, and tender thee in that case thou art in, but thou ar• not yet fit, herein GOD deals with us as the Physician deals with his Patient; The Patient earnestly desires such and such things; The Physician wants not will to give them him, but he resolves to give them as soon as he is fit: and therefore he makes him stay till he have purged him, and made him fit for it, till he ⟨p. 197⟩be fit for such a Cordial, for such a Medicine, that it may not hurt him: it may be GOD stays thee. So the men of Benjamin, they were fitted when they had fasted and prayed three times; when they had fasted once and twice, they adventured, and prevailed not till the third time. So GOD defers long: What if thou fast and pray, and GOD do not hear thee, yet conclude not with thy self, that thou art not yet fit. There is somewhat more that must be done. David, a man would think that he had been fitted for the Kingdom before that time, but GOD deferred it until David was humbled enough, till he was broken enough, till GOD had provided a Kingdom, as he promised.