A09950:669
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.
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.
2Secondly, he will heare thee, but it may be, thou art not yet fit for the mercie, not because he doth not heare thy prayer, and tender thee in that case thou art in, but thou ar• not yet fit, herein GOD deales with vs as the Physician deales with his Patient; The Patient earnestly desires such and such things; The Physician wants not will to giue them him, but he resolues to giue them as soone as he is fit: and therefore he makes him stay till hee haue purged him, and made him fit for it, till hee ⟨p. 197⟩be fit for such a Cordiall, for such a Medicine, that it may not hurt him: it may be GOD staies thee. So the men of Beniamin, they were fitted when they had fasted and prayed three times; when they had fasted once and twice, they aduentured, and preuailed not till the third time. So GOD defers long: What if thou fast and pray, and GOD doe not heare thee, yet conclude not with thy selfe, that thou art not yet fit. There is somewhat more that must be done. Dauid, a man would thinke that he had beene fitted for the Kingdome before that time, but GOD deferred it vntill Dauid was humbled enough, till he was broken enough, till GOD had prouided a Kingdome, as he promised.