A Golden Chain

Now what is this, to thirst? properly it is, when we are in a drought or dryness, and want drink to refresh us, to desire it. And therefore by a resemblance, they are said to thirst after righteousness, that want it and would have it, and they thirst after Christ that feel themselves out of Christ, and ⟨p. 1050⟩desire, yea, long after the blood of Christ, that they might be refreshed with it in their consciences. Here then we see that the desire of mercy, in the want of mercy, is the obtaining of mercy, and the desire to believe in the want of faith, is faith. Though as yet thou want firm and lively grace, yet art thou not altogether void of grace, if thou canst desire it, thy desire is the seed, conception, or bud of that which thou wantest: now is the spring time of the ingrafted word or the immortal seed cast into the furrows of thy heart: wait but a while, using good means, and thou shalt see that leaves, blossoms, and fruits will shortly follow after: Secondly, the desire of any good thing is accepted of God, as the lively invocation of his holy name, Psal. 10. God heareth the desires of the poor. Psal. 145. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him. When Moses said nothing, but only desired in heart the help and protection of God at the red sea, the Lord said unto him: why criest thou unto me? Exod. 14. And when we know not to pray as we ought Paul saith, that the spirit maketh request by the inward groans of the heart. Rom. 8.26• Hence I gather, when a man in his weakness prays with •ighes and groans, for the gift of lively faith, the want whereof he finds in himself; his very prayer on this manner made, is as truly in acceptation with God, as the prayer made in lively faith. Thirdly to the testimony of Scripture, I add the testimonies of Godly and learned men, not to prove the doctrine in hand, but to show a consent, and to prove thus much that the thing which I avouch is no private fantasy of any man:^a