We hold that there is a kind of implicit, or unexpressed faith: yea that the faith of every man in some part of his life, as in the time of his first conversion, and in the time of foam grievous temptation or distress, is implicit or infolded. The Samaritans are said to believe, Joh. 4. 14. because they took Christ for the Messiah, and thereupon were content to learn and obey the glad tidings of salvation. And in the same place, v.51. the Ruler with his family is said to believe, who did no m••e but generally acknowledge that Christ was the Messiah, and yielded himself to believe and obey his holy doctrine; being moved thereunto by a miracle wrought upon his young son. And Rahab Heb. 11.13. is said to believe, yea she is commended for faith even at the time when she received the spies. Now in the word of God we cannot find, that she had any more but a confused, general, or infolded faith, whereby she believed that the God of the Hebrews was the true God, and his word to be obeyed. And this faith (as it seems) was wrought in her by the report and relation of the miracles done in the land of Egypt, whereby she was ⟨p. 992⟩moved to join her self unto the people of God and to believe as they did. By these examples then it is manifest, that in the very servants of God, there is and may be for a time an implicit faith. For the better understanding of this point, it is to be considered that faith may be infolded two ways: fi•st in respect of knowledge of things to be believed: secondly in respect of the apprehension of the object of faith, namely Christ and his benefits. Now faith is infolded in respect of knowledge, when as sundry things that are necessary to salvation are not as yet distinctly known. Though Christ commended the faith of his disciples, for such a faith, against which the gates of hell should not prevail; yet was it unexpressed or wrapped up in regard of sundry points of religion: for first of all, Peter that made confession of Christ in the name of the rest, was at that time ignorant of the particular means whereby his redemption should be wrought. For after this, he went about to dissuade his master from the suffering of death at Jerusalem, whereupon Christ sharply rebuked him, saying, Come behind me Satan, thou art an offence unto me.
We hold that there is a kind of implicite, or vnexpressed faith: yea that the faith of euery man in some part of his life, as in the time of his first conuersion, and in the time of fome grieuous temptation or distresse, is implicite or infolded. The Samaritans are saide to beleeue, Ioh. 4. 14. be•ause they tooke Christ for the Messias, and thereupon were content to learne and obey the glad tidings of saluation. And in the same place, v.51. the Ruler with his familie is said to beleeue, who did no m••e but generally acknowledge that Christ was the Messias, and yeelded himselfe to beleeue and obey his holy doctrine; beeing mooued thereunto by a miracle wrought vpon his yong sonne. And Rahab Heb. 11.13. is said to beleeue, yea shee is commended for faith euen at the time when shee receiued the spies. Now in the word of God we cannot finde, that shee had any more but a confused, generall, or infolded faith, wherby shee beleeued that the God of the Hebrewes was the true God, and his word to be obeied. And this faith (as it seemes) was wrought in her by the report and relation of the miracles done in the land of Egypt, whereby she was ⟨p. 992⟩mooued to ioyne hir selfe vnto the people of God and to beleeue as they did. By these examples then it is manifest, that in the very seruants of God, there is and may be for a time an implicite faith. For the better vnderstanding of this point, it is to be considered that faith may be infolded two waies: fi•st in respect of knowledge of things to be beleeued: secondly in respect of the apprehension of the obiect of faith, namely Christ and his benefits. Now faith is infolded in respect of knowledge, when as sundrie things that are necessarie to saluation are not as yet distinctly knowne. Though Christ commended the faith of his disciples, for such a faith, against which the gates of hell should not preuaile; yet was it vnexpressed or wrapped vp in regard of sundrie points of religion: for first of all, Peter that made confession of Christ in the name of the rest, was at that time ignorant of the particular meanes whereby his redemption should be wrought. For after this, he went about to disswade his master from the suffering of death at Ierusalem, whereupon Christ sharply rebuked him, saying, Come behinde me Sathan, thou art an offence vnto me.
