The second kind of implicit faith, is in regard of Apprehension; when as a man can not say distinctly and certainly, I believe the pardon of my sins, but I do unfeignedly desire to believe the pardon of them all: and I desire to repent. This case befalls many of Gods children, when they are touched in conscience for their sins. But where men are displeased with themselves for their offences, ⟨p. 271⟩and do withal constantly from the heart desire to believe, and to be reconciled to God; there is faith and many other graces of God infolded: as in the little and tender bud, is infolded the leaf, the blossom, and the fruit. For though a desire to repent and to believe, be not faith and repentance in nature, yet in Gods acceptation it is, God accepting the will for the deed. Isai 42. v. 3. Christ will not quench the smoking flax, which as yet by reason of weakness gives neither light nor heat. Christ saith, Math. 6. 6. Blessed are they that HUNGER AND THIRST after righteousness: for they shall be satisfied: where by persons hungering and thirsting are meant all such, as feel with grief their own want of righteousness, and withal desire to be justified and sanctified. Rom. 8. 26. God hears & regards the very groans and sighs of his servants: yea, though they be unspeakable by reason they are oftentimes little, weak, & confused; yet God hath respect unto them, because they are the work of his own spirit. Thus when we see that in a touched heart desiring to believe, there is an ⟨p. 272⟩infolded faith. And this is the faith which many of the true servants of God have: and our salvation stands not so much in our apprehending of Christ, as in Christs comprehending of us: and therefore Paul saith, Philip. 3. 12. he followeth, namely after perfection, if that he might comprehend that, for whose sake he is comprehended of Christ. Now if any shall say, that without a lively faith in Christ none can be saved; I answer, that God accepts the desire to believe for lively faith, in the time of temptation, and in the time of our first conversion, as I have said. Put case, a man that never yet repented, falls into some grievous sickness, and then begins to be touched in conscience for his sins, and to be truly humbled: hereupon he is exhorted to believe his own reconciliation with God in Christ, & the pardon of his own sins.
The second kinde of implicite faith, is in regard of Apprehension; when as a man can not say distinctly and certenly, I beleeue the pardon of my sinnes, but I doe vnfainedly desire to beleeue the pardon of them all: and I desire to repent. This case befalls many of Gods children, when they are touched in conscience for their sinnes. But where men are displeased with themselues for their offences, ⟨p. 271⟩and doe withall constantly from the heart desire to beleeue, and to be reconciled to God; there is faith and many other graces of God infolded: as in the little and tender budde, is infolded the leafe, the blossome, and the fruit. For though a desire to repent and to beleeue, be not faith and repentance in nature, yet in Gods acceptation it is, God accepting the will for the deede. Isai 42. v. 3. Christ will not quench the smoking flaxe, which as yet by reason of weakenesse giues neither light nor heate. Christ saith, Math. 6. 6. Blessed are they that HVNGER AND THIRST after righteousnes: for they shall be satisfied: where by persons hungring and thirsting are meant al such, as feele with grief their owne want of righteousnes, and withall desire to be iustified and sanctified. Rom. 8. 26. God heares & regards the very grones and sighes of his seruants: yea, though they be vnspeakeable by reason they are oftentimes little, weake, & confused; yet God hath respect vnto thē, because they are the worke of his owne spirit. Thus whē we see that in a touched heart desiring to beleue, there is an ⟨p. 272⟩infolded faith. And this is the faith which many of the true seruants of God haue: and our saluation standes not so much in our apprehending of Christ, as in Christs comprehending of vs: and therefore Paul saith, Philip. 3. 12. he followeth, namely after perfection, if that he might comprehend that, for vvhose sake he is comprehended of Christ. Now if any shall say, that without a liuely faith in Christ none can be saued; I answer, that God accepts the desire to beleeue for liuely faith, in the time of temptation, and in the time of our first conuersion, as I haue saide. Put case, a man that neuer yet repented, falls into some grieuous sicknes, and then beginnes to be touched in conscience for his sinnes, and to be truly humbled: hereupon he is exhorted to beleeue his owne reconciliation with God in Christ, & the pardon of his owne sinnes.
