A09950:962
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.
First you must know him, for otherwise you §1cannot love him.1 As it is in natural love that is bred between man and man, you say love ariseth from sight, they must see before they can love; so you must know the Lord, there must be a sight of God by faith, before you can love him. And every man that sees him and knows him as he is will love him, he cannot choose, for that is the Lords work to all the Saints. Jerem. 31, You shall he taught of me, and you shall know me from the greatest to the least. It may be in some manner they knew God before, but although a man have never so exact knowledge of him, yet till he be a regenerate man, he never knows him indeed it is an other kind of knowledge that he hath, when a man is regenerate; when God teaches him to know him, he looks on God with an other eye, every thing is presented to him after an other manner, he sees now an other beauty in God than ever he saw before, he sees an other excellency in him: for that knowledge he had of him before bred not love. But when a man is once within the Covenant, the Lord will teach him such a knowledge of himself, as withal will work the love of him. Such a knowledge you must have of the Lord, and you may help your selves to love him by reasoning, if ever you saw ⟨p. 138⟩any excellency in any man, or in any creature, it did help you to love that creature. Think with your selves there is more in God that made that creature. He that made the eye shall he not see? So he that wrought that excellency, shall not he have it in himself in a greater measure? Besides, you may consider how the Lord hath described himself, that he is most wise, most merciful, and full of kindness, and gentleness, and abundant in truth, as you know that description in Exod. 34.
First you must know him, for otherwise you §1cannot love him.1 As it is in naturall loue that is bred between man and man, you say love ariseth from sight, they must see before they can love; so you must know the Lord, there must be a sight of God by faith, before you can love him. And every man that sees him and knowes him as he is will love him, he cannot chuse, for that is the Lords worke to all the Saints.