A09950:824
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.
It is true, we are as the vines that bring forth the grapes, but you are as the elms that hold up those vines: the Magistrates feed the people as well as the Ministers: therefore that phrase is applied to David, he was a Shepherd. Therefore in your several occasions, when you meet with that which may tend to the feeding of the people of God, when you shall labour so far as may lie within your compass, that the Gospel may have a free passage, that there may be more faithful and laborious Ministers set up in the several places of the kingdom, the more you do this, the more you feed Christs lambs. And if you will show that love you have to the Lord, show it by feeding his people, that is, by doing that which lies in your power tending to that end, by doing of it zealously, with all your might. And as that was the work that Christ put Peter upon for the trial of his love, so I may say to every one of you, If you will show that you love the Lord Jesus, do the work that belongs to ⟨p. 77⟩your particular place; for every calling hath a particular work in it: if you love the Lord, be diligent in that way, in that calling which Christ hath given you to do him service in: and herein you shall show your love, as it was Christs own speech, I have glorified thy Name, that is, in that particular work, in that charge which thou gavest me to perform: so you must show your love to God in doing the actions of your particular callings diligently. You know, when that woman's heart abounded in love to Christ, how it found out a way wherein it would show it self presently in breaking the box of ointment, &c.
It is true, wee are as the vines that bring forth the grapes, but you are as the elmes that holde up those vines: the Magistrates feede the people as well as the Ministers: therefore that phrase is applied to David, hee was a Shepheard. Therefore in your severall occasions, when you meete with that which may tend to the feeding of the people of God, when you shall labour so farre as may lie within your compasse, that the Gospell may have a free passage, that there may be more faithfull and laborious Ministers set up in the severall places of the kingdome, the more you doe this, the more you feede Christs lambes. And if you will shew that love you have to the Lord, shew it by feeding his people, that is, by doing that which lyes in your power tending to that end, by doing of it zealously, with all your might. And as that was the worke that Christ put Peter upon for the tryall of his love, so I may say to every one of you, If you will shew that you love the Lord Iesus, doe the worke that belongs to