A09950:942
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.
And if we take an examination of men by this, how few are there that love the Lord? We may truly say as the Apostle saith, The love of God is not in them, for men seek themselves, and their own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ. One follows this particular, another that, every man fitting and plotting a garment to himself composed of such vices as do suite every mans humour. This is a sign that you love not the Lord, when you mind the world, and go with the world, and let your whole body and soul follow it, with all the actions, and all the strength and endeavour thereof. The love of many shall wax cold, because iniquity shall abound. What is the meaning of that? That is, because the men of the world, those that are in place, because they shall countenance iniquity, because the stream of the times shall go that way; for this cause the love of many shall wax cold: that is, because they mind the world, whereas if they did not love the world, and the things of it, though iniquity did abound, yet their love would wax hotter. When things are so that iniquity abounds, some will not take the pains, they love their ease, and contentment; ⟨p. 128⟩others want courage to do it, they are faint-hearted, and dare not adventure. Now whence doth this come but from the love of the world? for no man is fearful, but because there is something that he is in love with, and is loath to part with. If a man did not love the things of the world, he would have courage for the truth. This is therefore an argument that men do love the world, and consequently the love of the Father is not in them.
And if we take an examination of men by this, how few are there that love the Lord? We may trulie say as the Apostle saith, The love of God is not in them, for men seeke themselves, and their owne things, and not the things of Iesus Christ. One followes this particular, another that, everie man fitting and plotting a garment to himselfe composed of such vices as doe suite everie mans humour. This is a signe that you love not the Lord, when you minde the world, and goe with the world, and let your whole bodie and soule follow it, with all the actions, and all the strength and indeavour thereof. The love of many shall waxe colde, because iniquitie shall abound. What is the meaning of that? That is, because the men of the world, those that are in place, because they shall countenance iniquitie, because the streame of the times shall goe that way; for this cause the love of many shall waxe colde: that is, because they mind the world, wheras if they did not love the world, and the things of it, though iniquitie did abound, yet their love would waxe hotter. When things are so that iniquitie abounds, some will not take the paines, they love their ease, and contentment;