A09950:806
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.
1My Beloved, let us try this now a little: thou thinkest thou art so bountiful for the Lord, I would ask thee this; Doest thou do it purely for the Lord in such a case, when there is no profit nor praise with men, nor advantage redounding to thy self? art thou as forward then as when there are all those respects? art thou as abundant in it, as diligent, and as ready to do it? This discovers the falsehood of mens hearts for the most part.
1My Beloved, let us trie this now a little: thou thinkest thou art so bountifull for the Lord, I would aske thee this; Doest thou doe it purely for the Lord in such a case, when there is no profit nor praise with men, nor advantage redounding to thy selfe? art thou as forward then as when there are all those respects? art thou as abundant in it, as diligent, and as ready to doe it? This discovers the falshood of mens hearts for the most part.
- 1Answ.
And besides, take it in the case of self-love, consider what thou doest when thine own self-love shall come in competition with this love to the Lord: for in that we shall know our love to the Lord, when we deny our selves, when we cross our self-love, and reject and refuse it: for otherwise it is no thank to us, when there is no inward crossing in us, no contrary affections drawing us another way. Therefore if you would ⟨p. 65⟩know whether you love the Lord or no, try what you do in the things that are dearest to you, consider what you do in those things that of all others you are most unwilling to part with: for indeed herein is the trial, as the Lord said to Abraham, when he would have offered up his son, Now Abraham I know that thou lovest me: As if he had said, this is a sure testimony that thou lovest me, because thy son is not dear to thee. So I say, when you are to part with something that is dear to you, consider what you do in such a case, consider whether you can say generally, I account all things but as loss and dung for Christ. It may be thou art willing to part with something that thou carest not much for, but this is nothing. Some man will not lose his credit, that is dear to him; Examine thy self now, if thy credit be dear to thee, art thou content to lose the praise of men for Christ? when thou art put to a hazard art thou content to suffer the loss of thy estate?