A09950:67
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.
Where, by the way, you may mark something, and add it to that I said before. What is the reason that the seeking praise of men should hinder from believing? Certainly, ⟨p. 21⟩if Faith were only an Act of the understanding, assenting to the truth for the Authority of its Speaker, it would be no hindrance or impediment to the act of the mind, in believing that such a thing is true; so that it must needs have reference to the will. Therefore, saith CHRIST, While you seek the praise of men, how can you believe? That is, take me for your GOD and LORD whom you will serve altogether? So that to take CHRIST with a justifying faith, is nothing else but to receive him, as it is expressed in many other places of Scripture: Joh. 1.11.1 He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but to as many as received him, he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. And so it is not (as the Papists say) a mere act of the understanding, but a taking of him for your GOD, your Saviour, to whom alone you will be subject, and give your self.
Where, by the way, you may marke something, and adde it to that I said before. What is the reason that the seeking praise of men should hinder from beleeuing? Certainely, ⟨p. 21⟩if Faith were onely an Act of the vnderstanding, assenting to the truth for the Authority of its Speaker, it would bee no hindrance or impediment to the act of the mind, in beleeuing that such a thing is true; so that it must needs haue reference to the will. Therefore, saith CHRIST, While you seeke the praise of men, how can you beleeue? That is, take me for your GOD and LORD whom you will serue altogether? So that to take CHRIST with a iustifying faith, is nothing else but to receiue him, as it is expressed in many other places of Scripture: Ioh. 1.11.1 Hee came vnto his owne, and his owne receiued him not; but to as many as receiued him, he gaue power to become the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue on his Name. And so it is not (as the Papists say) a meere act of the vnderstanding, but a taking of him for your GOD, your Sauiour, to whom alone you will bee subject, and giue your selfe.