A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

Thirdly, It draweth us forward to seek mercy of God.¹ The wise Merchant first discovers the pearl of price, and then seeketh to get possession of it. The desire of a believer is not a dead or sluggish wish, Oh, that my sins were pardoned, when he never stirreth up himself to receive the promise: But it is a deliberate desire, of a benefit known, possible to be attained, attended with much comfort, and freely promised by him that cannot lie, which is ever accompanied with proportionable care to get and possess the blessing desired; Faith will not suffer a man to smoother or conceal his desires, nor desires themselves to die: but it preserveth and kindleth desires, & constraineth with an holy violence to lay them open before the Lord. Thus by faith a man cometh freely to renounce his title and interest in the world, and to part with any thing, that might hinder mercy. The wise Merchant having found the pearl of price, ²for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath; not as if he could merit pardon, but that he might be capable of pardon and make a faithful plea for mercy. To this end also he humbleth himself before the throne of grace in true and unfeigned confession of his sins, freely judging ⟨p. 223⟩and condemning himself before God, which a broken and contrite heart. I will declare mine iniquity, I will be sorry for my sin. ³So the prodigal son coming home to his Father, doth bewail his former lewdness, saying, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee. Pharaoh and Saul being evidently convinced of sin,⁴ may be constrained in conscience to make some confession to men, I have sinned this time, and the Lord is righteous: I have played the fool, and erred exceedingly. ⁵Ahab humbleth himself before God, & putteth on sackcloth, in hope to prevent the temporal evil denounced against him and his house: But the confession of true and unfeigned faith is free and voluntary, in hope of free pardon and forgiveness. Temporary believers may make confession of there sins with some grief and sorrow, but as they confess their sins, so they believe: their confession is maimed, and their faith superficial; they renounce not their interest in the world, which infers the willing choice of some inferior good, before the favour and love of God, and their belief of the promises is shallow and subordinate to their base & earthly passions.