Faith is seated as well in the understanding as in the will. It has an eye to see Christ, as well as a wing to fly to him. Such therefore as are veiled in ignorance, or have only an implicit faith to believe as the church believes, have no true and genuine faith. Faith lives in a broken heart. He cried out with tears, Lord, I believe.
True faith is always in a heart bruised for sin.
They, therefore, whose hearts were never touched for sin, have no faith. So saving faith always grows in a heart humbled for sin, in a weeping eye and a tearful conscience. If, therefore, there be a show of faith, but it grows upon the rock of a hard impenitent heart, it is not the true faith. It is like the smoking flax, Matt. They who, at the first dash have a strong persuasion that Christ is theirs, who leap out of sin into assurance, have a false and spurious faith.