A09950:940
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.
But you will object, the holiest man, he that is most regenerate,1 yet is inordinately affected to the world, is too ready to grieve, and to rejoice inordinately, it too ready to fail when these things come in competition with God. Therefore how should we examine our hearts by this?
But you will object, the holiest man, hee that is most regenerate,1 yet is inordinately affected to the world, is too readie to grieve, and to rejoice inordinately, it too readie to faile when these things come in competition with God. Therefore how should wee examine our hearts by this?
- 1Object.
1I answer in a word, that it is true in the Saints, there is something in their hearts that doth all this that I have spoken; but it is not they that do it: as the Apostle speaks, It is not I, but sin that dwells in me: We cannot deny but that there is flesh and worldly-mindedness even in them; but yet this they do, these worldly lusts and desires they are still checking them, and restraining them, and keeping them down, so that though they be there, yet they do not walk after the vanity of their minds, they are not led by it, but they are led by the Spirit, and walk by the Spirit. Indeed sometimes they fall, when they are transported with temptations, and through incogitancy, and infirmity, yet their constant walking is not after the vanity of their mind, for that is proper to those that fear not God. Therefore know thus much (my brethren) that though the Saints do these things sometimes, yet their purpose, and their desire and care is to cross and resist them as much as they can, that though they have these inordinate worldly desires in them, yet they are not midwives to themselves, to