A desire to be reconciled, is not reconciliation in nature, (for the desire is one thing, & reconciliation is another) but in Gods acceptation: for if we being touched throughly for our sins, do desire to have them pardoned, and to be at one with god, God accepts us as reconciled. Again, desire to believe, it is not faith in nature, but only in Gods acceptation, God accepting the will for the deed. That this doctrine is the will and word ⟨p. 22⟩of God, it appears by these reasons. First of all, God hath annexed a promise of blessedness, & of life everlasting, to the desire of grace. Mat. 5. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied Joh. 7. 38. If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. Revel. 2. 1. I will give unto him which is a thirst, of the well of the water of life freely. Now what is this to thirst? properly it is, when we are in a drought or dryness, and want drink to refresh us, & desire it. And therefore by all resemblance, they are said to thirst after righteousness, that want it, and would fain have it: And they thirst after christ that feel themselves out of ⟨p. 23⟩Christ, and 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. Mark then: though as yet thou want firm and lively grace, yet art thou not altogether void of grace, if thou canst unfeignedly desire it, thy desire is the seed, conception, or bud of that which thou wantest. Now is the springtime of the ingrafted word or the immortal seed cast into the furrows of thy heart: wait but a while, using the good means to this end appointed, and thou shalt see ⟨p. 24⟩the leaves, blossoms, & fruit 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 desire of the poor. Psal. 145. He will fulfil the desire of him that feareth him. When Moses said nothing, but only desired in heart the help and protection of God at the read sea, the Lord said unto him, Why criest thou unto me? Exod. 14. 15. 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.
A desire to be reconciled, is not reconciliation in nature, (for the desire is one thing, & reconciliation is another) but in Gods acceptation: for if we being touched throughly for our sins, do desire to haue them pardoned, and to bee at one with god, God accepts vs as reconciled. Againe, desire to beleeue, it is not faith in nature, but onely in Gods acceptation, God accepting the will for the deede. That this doctrine is the will and word ⟨p. 22⟩of God, it appeares by these reasons. First of all, God hath annexed a promise of blessednes, & of life euerlasting, to the desire of grace. Mat. 5. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, for they shall bee satisfied Ioh. 7. 38. If any man thirst, let him come to mee and drinke. Reuel. 2. 1. I will giue vnto him which is a thirst, of the well of the water of life freely. Now what is this to thirst? properly it is, when wee are in a drought or drines, and want drinke to refresh vs, & desire it. And therefore by all resemblance, they are saide to thirst after righteousnes, that want it, and would faine haue it: And they thirst after christ that feele themselues out of ⟨p. 23⟩Christ, and 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 mercie: and the desire to beleeue, in the want of faith, is faith. Marke then: though as yet thou want firme and liuely grace, yet art thou not altogether voide of grace, if thou canst vnfainedly desire it, thy desire is the seede, conception, or bud of that which thou wantest. Now is the springtime of the ingrafted word or the immortall seede cast into the furrowes of thy heart: waite but a while, vsing the good meanes to this ende appointed, and thou shalt see ⟨p. 24⟩the leaues, blossomes, & fruit will shortly follow after. Secōdly, the desire of any good thing is accepted of God, as the liuely inuocation of his holy name, Psal. 10. God heareth the desire of the poore. Psal. 145. He will fulfill the desire of him that feareth him. When Moses said nothing, but onely desired in heart the helpe and protection of God at the redde sea, the Lord said vnto him, Why criest thou vnto me?
