A09950:70
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.
Again, it must be a deliberate will; and this excludes all those that will take CHRIST in a good mood, on some sudden flash, when they are affected at a good Sermon, and have some good motions cast into their minds, that will (at such a time) be content to take CHRIST, to serve him and obey him, to forsake their sins, and give over their former lusts, but the will is not deliberate.
Againe, it must be a deliberate will; and this excludes all those that will take CHRIST in a good moode, on some sudden flash, when they are affected at a good Sermon, and haue some good motions cast into their mindes, that will (at such a time) be content to take CHRIST, to serue him and obey him, to forsake their sinnes, and giue ouer their former lusts, but the will is not deliberate.
Last of all, as it must be complete and deliberate, so it must be a true will; that is, it must be free; and that excludes all them that merely for servile fear, at time of death, in ⟨p. 23⟩the day of sickness and trouble, when Hell and Heaven are presented to them, will take CHRIST: Indeed you can scarce come to any, but, in such a case, he will profess that he is now content to take CHRIST for his Lord and Saviour; but this is done by constraint, and so the will is not free. So I say, when all these concur, the match is now made, and you are justified.
Last of all, as it must be compleat and deliberate, so it must be a true will; that is, it must be free; and that excludes all them that meerely for seruile feare, at time of death, in ⟨p. 23⟩the day of sicknesse and trouble, when Hell and Heauen are presented to them, will take CHRIST: Indeede you can scarce come to any, but, in such a case, hee will professe that he is now content to take CHRIST for his Lord and Sauionr; but this is done by constraint, and so the will is not free. So I say, when all these concurre, the match is now made, and you are iustified.