A Body of Practical Divinity

(2.) Faith lives in a broken Heart. Mark 9.24. He cried out with Tears, Lo! I believe. True Faith is always in an Heart bruised for Sin: Such therefore whose Hearts were never touched for Sin, have no Faith. If a Physician should tell us there were an Herb would help us against all Infections, but it always grows in a watery place: If we should see an Herb like it in Colour, Leaf, Smell, Blossom, but it grows upon a Rock, we would conclude this were the wrong Herb. So saving Faith doth always grow in an Heart humbled for Sin; it grows in a weeping Eye, a watery Conscience: Therefore if there be a show of Faith, but it grows upon a Rock, an hard impenitent Heart, this is not the true Faith.

(2.) Faith lives in a broken Heart. Mark 9.24. He cryed out with Tears, Lo! I believe. True Faith is always in an Heart bruised for Sin: Such therefore whose Hearts were never touched for Sin, have no Faith. If a Physician should tell us there were an Herb would help us against all Infections, but it always grows in a watery place: If we should see an Herb like it in Colour, Leaf, Smell, Blossom, but it grows upon a Rock, we would conclude this were the wrong Herb. So saving Faith doth always grow in an Heart humbled for Sin; it grows in a weeping Eye, a watry Conscience: Therefore if there be a shew of Faith, but it grows upon a Rock, an hard impenitent Heart, this is not the true Faith.

(3.) True Faith is at first nothing but an Embryo, it is minute and small; it is full of Doubtings, Temptations, Fears: It begins in Weakness. It is like the smoking Flax, Matth. 12.20. It smokes with Desires, but doth not flame with Comfort. It is at first so small, that it is scarce discernible. Such as at the first dash have a strong Persuasion that Christ is theirs, who leap out of Sin into Assurance; their Faith is false and spurious. That Faith which is come to its full Stature on its Birthday, is a Monster. The Seed that sprung up suddenly withered,