The Breastplate of Faith and Love

Now to conclude this, we must beseech you to consider your own condition, and examine your selves by these rules, that you may be able to say as Peter said, Lord thou knowest I love thee: that is, to have such an assurance, that your hearts may be well affected towards Christ Jesus, that you may love him, that you may be able to say to God, who knows our hearts, searcheth our reins, that knows all the windings and turnings of your souls, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Since it is a matter of such moment, we should be careful to examine, if we find that we have not yet this love: for we must know, that all that we have, all that we do, it will nothing avail us, but faith which worketh by love. And if you object, why do ye preach damnation to us? do you tell us we are in an evil condition for want of this love? I answer, it is profitable for you, while you are in such a condition, to have it preached, it is good for you to speak this damnation to your selves, that while yet there is hope you may seek to be healed, that you may be translated into another condition, that you may not perish in the evil day, when there shall be neither hope nor help for you. For you must know, that when we deliver you these signs of examining your selves, our end is not to grieve you, this doctrine tends not to destruction, but to discover to you your own hearts, that you may know your own condition, that if you want it, you may seek after it. If therefore you find a want of this love, that we will do next, shall be to show you what ⟨p. 34⟩reason you have to love the Lord Jesus: for there is no better way to get it in you, than to describe him to you, to show you what cause there is of loving him: if we were able to present him to you as he is, we should effect this thing, but that must be the work of the holy Ghost; notwithstanding we will briefly open to you such reasons as we find used in the Scriptures.¹

Now to conclude this, wee must beseech you to consider your owne condition, and examine your selves by these rules, that you may be able to say as Peter said, Lord thou knowest I love thee: that is, to have such an assurance, that your hearts may be well affected towards Christ Iesus, that you may love him, that you may be able to say to God, who knowes our hearts, searcheth our reines, that knowes all the windings and turnings of your soules, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Since it is a matter of such moment, wee should be carefull to examine, if we finde that we have not yet this love: for we must know, that all that we have, all that we doe, it will nothing availe us, but faith which worketh by love. And if you object, why doe ye preach damnation to us? doe you tell us we are in an evill condition for want of this love? I answere, it is profitable for you, while you are in such a condition, to have it preached, it is good for you to speake this damnation to your selves, that while yet there is hope you may seek to be healed, that you may be translated into another condition, that you may not perish in the evill day, when there shalbe neither hope nor helpe for you. For you must know, that when wee deliver you these signes of examining your selves, our end is not to grieue you, this doctrine tends not to destruction, but to discover to you your owne hearts, that you may know your owne condition, that if you want it, you may seek after it. If therefore you finde a want of this love, that we will doe next, shall be to shew you what