The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

8. That Faith alone is Justifying which hath Justification actually accompanying of it. For thence alone it hath that denomination. To suppose a man to have Justifying Faith, ⟨p. 111⟩and not to be justified is to suppose a Contradiction. Nor do we enquire after the nature of any other Faith but that whereby a Believer is actually justified. But it is not so with all them in whom this Assent is found; nor will those that plead for it, allow that upon it alone any are immediately justified. Wherefore it is sufficiently evident that there is somewhat more required unto Justifying Faith than a real Assent unto all Divine Revelations, although we do give that Assent by the Faith whereby we are justified.

But on the other side, it is supposed that by some the Object of Justifying Faith is so much restrained, and the nature of it thereby determined unto such a peculiar Acting of the mind, as compriseth not the whole of what is in the Scripture ascribed unto it. So some have said, that it is the pardon of our sins in particular that is the Object of Justifying Faith; Faith therefore they make to be a full persuasion of the forgiveness of our sins through the Mediation of Christ; or that what Christ did and suffered as our Mediator, he did it for us in particular. And a particular Application of especial mercy unto our own Souls and Consciences is hereby made the Essence of Faith. Or to believe that our own sins are forgiven, seems hereby to be the first and most proper Act of Justifying Faith. Hence it would follow, that whosoever doth not believe, or hath not a firm persuasion of the forgiveness of his own sins in particular, hath no saving Faith, is no true Believer; which is by no means to be admitted. And if any have been or are of this Opinion, I fear that they were in the asserting of it, neglective of their own Experience; Or it may be rather, that they knew not how in their Experience, all the other Actings of Faith wherein its Essence doth consist, were included in this persuasion, which in an especial manner they aimed at; whereof we shall speak afterwards. And there is no doubt unto me but that this which they propose, Faith is suited unto, aimeth at, and doth ordinarily