A09950:916
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.
Besides this mocking of the Lord, and dissembling with him, you deal most foolishly with your selves: for all the comfort that you shall ever find in this life, it will be from working, from being serviceable to God, and profitable to ⟨p. 114⟩men; empty lives cause but empty joy. Therefore if any man shall find this to be his case, examine it, it is but a false profession of love. And as I speak to those that are young, that spend their time, Nihil agendo: so I may say the same to those that are of more years, that waste their lives in doing something indeed, but it is not that which they should do, or in doing it in another manner than they ought; those that are so drowned in business, so overwhelmed with employment, so occupied with outward things abroad, that they have no vacancy to feed their souls within, to clothe them with graces. For you must know, my brethren, that your souls have need to be trimmed every morning, as well as the body, they have need of breakfast, and dinner, and exercise, as well as the body; and as you fail in giving this due respect to the soul daily, so you shall find that proportionably in that degree the inward man will languish, and grow faint. But to speak a word unto you likewise: Do you think that you love the Lord Jesus in good earnest, and yet have scarce leisure to think of him from morning to night, that you cannot take time to speak to him, to seek him, nor to prepare your hearts for him?
Besides this mocking of the Lord, and dissembling with him, you deale most foolishly with your selves: for all the comfort that you shall ever finde in this life, it will be from working, from being serviceable to God, and profitable to ⟨p. 114⟩men; empty lives cause but empty joy. Therefore if any man shall finde this to be his case, examine it, it is but a false profession of love. And as I speake to those that are young, that spend their time, Nihil agendo: so I may say the same to those that are of more yeares, that waste their lives in doing something indeede, but it is not that which they should doe, or in doing it in another manner than they ought; those that are so drowned in businesse, so overwhelmed with imployment, so occupied with outward things abroad, that they have no vacancie to feede their soules within, to cloathe them with graces. For you must know, my brethren, that your soules have neede to be trimmed every morning, as well as the body, they have neede of breakfast, and dinner, and exercise, as well as the body; and as you faile in giving this due respect to the soule daily, so you shall finde that proportionably in that degree the inward man will languish, and grow faint. But to speake a word unto you likewise: Doe you thinke that you love the Lord Iesus in good earnest, and yet have scarse leisure to thinke of him from morning to night, that you cannot take time to speake to him, to seeke him, nor to prepare your hearts for him?