A09950:733
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.
So I say, such a disposition of heart as looks on Christ as one whom he longs after, he looks on him as on a husband, as one whom he is willing to match with, that he can say truly, This is the ⟨p. 18⟩best husband for me in all the world, though yet I have not wooed him, though yet I have not a full assurance of his affection to me, as I would have; I say, this will certify your judgement, and withal it will comfort you, that though your faith be weak, yet he belongs to you, it is a true faith. Again, it shuts out those that have false hearts; although thou thinkest thy persuasion be full, that Christ belongs to thee, yet if thy heart be not thus prepared to seek him, and to esteem him, thy faith is not true. I can stay no longer in the opening of this, so much shall serve to show you what this love is: You see what love is in general, and this love to the Lord, this love to Christ.
So I say, such a disposition of heart as lookes on Christ as one whom he longs after, he lookes on him as on a husband, as one whom he is willing to match with, that he can say truely, This is the ⟨p. 18⟩best husband for me in all the world, though yet I have not wooed him, though yet I have not a full assurance of his affection to mee, as I would have; I say, this will certifie your judgement, and withall it will comfort you, that though your faith be weake, yet he belongs to you, it is a true faith. Againe, it shuttes out those that have false hearts; although thou thinkest thy perswasion be full, that Christ belongs to thee, yet if thy heart be not thus prepared to seeke him, and to esteeme him, thy faith is not true. I can stay no longer in the opening of this, so much shall serve to shew you what this love is: You see what love is in generall, and this love to the Lord, this love to Christ.
Now I come to prosecute the point, having gone thus far in the explication of it; I say, this love is so necessary to salvation, as that he that hath it not is in a cursed and damnable condition; he is not in Christ, if he do not love, that as the Apostle saith, he that believes not shall be damned: we may say as well of love, for there is a tie between all these, faith, repentance and love. And therefore we find these words put promiscuously, sometimes he that believes not shall not be saved, sometimes he that repents not shall not be saved, sometimes he that obeys not, sometimes he that loves not shall not be saved: and therefore the Scripture is clear in it, and there is good reason for it.