A09950:729
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.
If you will take him, you shall have him and all his.
Now when a mans heart is broken, you cannot bring him better news; Indeed till then you may go and preach the Gospel long enough, you may propound Christ to men, they will not take him: But when we propound him thus to a heart prepared, thus to him that is poor in spirit, to him that hath his heart wounded in the sense of his sins and of Gods wrath, now I I say he is willing to come in, he is willing to take Christ as a Lord, as a husband: when that is done, that Christ hath discovered his will to take them, and they resolve to take him, then there ariseth a holy, a constant conjugal love wherein they are rooted and grounded. This is the love we are now to speak of. So that to prepare us to love Christ, we must come to look on him as upon that which is suitable and agreeable to us. And again, as one that is willing to receive us: And that you must mark diligently. Therefore we will give you this definition of love out of that which hath been said:1 It is an holy disposition of the heart rising from faith, whereby we cleave to the Lord with a purpose of heart to serve him and to please him in all things.
Now when a mans heart is broken, you cannot bring him better newes; Indeede till then you may goe and preach the Gospell long enough, you may propound Christ to men, they will not take him: But when we propound him thus to a heart prepared, thus to him that is poore in spirit, to him that hath his heart wounded in the sense of his sinnes and of Gods wrath, now I I say hee is willing to come in, hee is willing to take Christ as a Lord, as a husband: when that is done, that Christ hath discovered his will to take them, and they resolve to take him, then there ariseth a holy, a constant conjugall loue wherein they are rooted and grounded. This is the love we are now to speake of. So that to prepare us to love Christ, wee must come to looke on him as upon that which is sutable and agreeable to us. And againe, as one that is willing to receiue us: And that you must marke diligently. Therefore wee will give you this definition of loue out of that which hath been said: