A09950:943
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.
5Let us come yet to another expostulation. In the first place therefore, if you love the Lord, you will find in your selves a readiness to please him in all things, you will do it naturally: As the Apostle speaks of Timothy, I know no man like minded, who will naturally care for your matters. So if you love the Lord aright, you will do it with a natural affection, you will love him naturally: For what is this love to the Lord, if it be right, but that which himself hath planted in us? we are taught of him to love him. It is like the natural affection which parents have to their children, such a kind of affection will it be if you love the Lord, you will do that which is good in his sight with a kind of naturalness and readiness, you will be carried to the duties of his service as the fire is carried upwards, and not as stones are carried upwards with the force of another, but you will do them readily, and cheerfully; you will not do good duties as being haled to them, and put on to do them, but you will be zealous of good works, that is, you will ⟨p. 129⟩have a burning desire in your hearts, longing after them, you shall not need to have them forced upon you, but you will be forward to do them, you will be affected to good works as you are out of self-love to your own business. You know when a man naturally loveth himself, when he is to do something that concerns his own good, how solicitous is he about it, and how provident forecasting how to bring it to pass, and if any rub be in the way it troubleth him, if there be any fair passage, and likelihood of achieving it, he rejoiceth. Now, if you love the Lord naturally and truly, you will go about his business as you go about your own, if there be any business to be done: Magistrates in their place, Ministers in their place, and every man indeed shall find some business to do, wherein he may bring glory to Gods name, and advantage to his cause. Consider now how you are stirred about it, do you go about this business, are you so industrious and laborious, do you project it, do you mind it as your own? you will not stand expostulating the matter, to say must I do it? and is it of necessity? But if it be a thing that tends to the advancing of the glory of God, you will do it with all readiness, you will not so much stand upon this, what wages shall I have?