A09950:741
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.
Begin to think, Have I received the Lord Jesus? Have I believed in Christ? These are great sins against the Gospel: and these sins should chiefly humble us. If you think I press this too hard, consider the words of the Apostle I named, Let him be accursed that loves not the Lord Jesus: Let these words be sounding in your ears, compare your hearts to them, sometimes cast your eye on the one, and sometimes on the other, and see if it be not absolutely required to love the Lord. And again, reflect on your hearts, and see if you be in the number of those that do love him.
Begin to thinke, Have I received the Lord Iesus? Have I beleeved in Christ? These are great sins against the Gospell: and these sinnes should chiefly humble us. If you thinke I presse this too hard, consider the words of the Apostle I named, Let him be accursed that loves not the Lord Iesus: Let these words be sounding in your eares, compare your hearts to them, sometimes cast your eye on the one, and sometimes on the other, and see if it be not absolutely required to love the Lord. And againe, reflect on your hearts, and see if you be in the number of those that doe love him.
And take heed herein that you deceive not your selves, for it is the manner, when we press the love of Christ upon them, they are ready to say, I hope I love the Lord, I hope I am not such a miscreant as not to love him; yea but consider whether thou do or no: it is true, thou mayest deceive me or another man when thou professest love to God, but in this thou canst not deceive thy self; for a man knows what he loves, love is a very sensible and quick affection.1 When a man loves any thing, when he loves his wife, loves his friend, loves his son, loves his sport, his recreation, he knows he loves it, he hath the sense of that love in himself. Therefore consider with thy self whether thou hast any such stirring affection towards the Lord Jesus or no; doest ⟨p. 25⟩