A09950:83
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.
1First, this great Use is to be made of it, To learn hence to see how great the sin of men is, and how just is their condemnation for the same, that when this righteousness of God is revealed from heaven by this Gospel, which we now preach, they resist it, casting it at their heels, not regarding it, but despising ⟨p. 27⟩these glad tidings of salvation, which is so glorious a mystery. This very thing that we preach to you, is it that was so many thousand years ago fore-told, and as long expected, being the greatest work that ever God did. This is it which Paul magnified so much, and stood so amazed at. Therefore, if you reject it, know that your sin is exceeding great: we that preach the Gospel, are Messengers sent from the Father, to invite every one of you to come to the Marriage of his Son: If you will not come, (as some of you are young, and mind other things; others of you have gone long in an old tract, and will not turn; some have married a Wife, others have other business, and therefore you will not come; or if you do come, it is without your Wedding Garment, you come not with a conjugal affection) I say, if you refuse, the LORD will deal with you, as with them in the Gospel, he will have you brought and slain before his face. And we come not from the Father only, but we are also sent from the Son, he is a Suitor to you, and hath dispatched us as Ambassadors to woo you, and to beseech you to be reconciled; if you will come, he hath made known his mind to you, you may have him; if you will not come, you will make him angry; and you had need to kiss the Son lest he be angry: though he be so merciful, as not to quench the smoking Flax, nor to break the bruised Reed, yet notwithstanding, ⟨p. 28⟩that Son hath feet like burning brass, he hath a two-edged Sword in his hand, and his eyes are like flames of fire: So you shall find him to be, if you refuse him. As he is a corner stone for some to build on, so he is a corner stone to grind them to powder that refuse him. When the better is the suitor, and is rejected, what wrath, what indignation breeds it among men? And so take all the sins you have committed, there is none like this, none shall be so much laid to your charge at the Day of Judgement, as your rejecting of the Son, and of his righteousness revealed, and freely offered to you.