A09950:739
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 it be of such moment to love the Lord,1 then let every man look to himself, and consider whether he have in his heart this love to the Lord Jesus; for as it is with men, although you may do them many kindnesses, yet if it proceed not from love, they regard it not: so it is with the Lord, whatsoever you do, though you may do much, though you pray never so constantly, ⟨p. 22⟩though you sanctify the Sabbath never so diligently, do what you will, yet if you love him not, he regards it not: Neither circumcision is any thing, nor uncircumcision is any thing, but love. Indeed, when a man doth love him, the Lord bears with much, as you see he did with David, because he was one that loved him. But when you love him not, perform never so much, he rejects all, he heeds it not: As you see it was with Amaziah, you know how much he did, yet it was not accepted, he did it not with a perfect heart, that is, he did it not out of love. And therefore the Lord doth with us as we do with men, when men have false hearts, we see they love us not, we say they do but complement. So the Lord Jesus doth. This should help us to discover our selves, there is no way to discover hypocrisy, none so sure a sign of it, as where love is not.
If it be of such moment to love the Lord,1 then let every man looke to himselfe, and consider whether hee have in his heart this love to the Lord Iesus; for as it is with men, although you may doe them many kindnesses, yet if it proceed not from love, they regard it not: so it is with the Lord, whatsoever you doe, though you may doe much, though you pray never so constantly, ⟨p. 22⟩though you sanctifie the Sabboth never so diligently, doe what you will, yet if you love him not, he regards it not: Neither circumscision is any thing, nor uncircumcision is any thing, but love. Indeede, when a man doth love him, the Lord beares with much, as you see hee did with David, because he was one that loved him. But when you love him not, performe never so much, he rejects all, he heedes it not: As you see it was with Amaziah, you know how much he did, yet it was not accepted, hee did it not with a perfect heart, that is, he did it not out of love. And therefore the Lord doth with us as we doe with men, when men have false hearts, we see they love us not, we say they doe but complement. So the Lord Iesus doth. This should helpe us to discover our selves, there is no way to discover hypocrisie, none so sure a signe of it, as where love is not.