The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

Wherefore, although in and with the Justification of a Sinner, he is made Godly, for he is endowed with that Faith which purifieth the heart, and is a vital Principle of all Obedience, and the Conscience is purged from Dead Works by the Blood of Christ; yet antecedently unto his Justification he is ungodly and considered as ungodly, as one that worketh not, as one whose Duties and Obedience contribute nothing unto his Justification. As he worketh not, all works are excluded from being the causa per quam; and as he is ungodly, from being the causa sine qua non of his Justification.

The Qualification of the Subject, or the means on the part of the person to be justified, and whereby he becomes actually so to be, is Faith or believing. But believeth on him who justifieth the ungodly. That is, it is Faith alone. For it is the Faith of him who worketh not; and not only so, but its especial object, God as justifying the ungodly, is exclusive of the concomitancy of any works whatever.

This is Faith alone, or it is impossible to express Faith alone, without the literal use of that word alone. But Faith being asserted, in opposition unto all works of ours, unto him that worketh not, and its especial nature declared in its especial object, God as justifying the ungodly, that is, freely by his Grace, through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, no place is left for any Works to make the least approach towards ⟨p. 458⟩our Justification before God, under the covert of any distinction whatever. And the nature of Justifying Faith is here also determined. It is not a mere assent unto Divine Revelations; it is not such a firm assent unto them, as should cause us to yield Obedience unto all the Precepts of the Scripture, though these things are included in it; but it is a believing on, and trusting unto him that justifieth the ungodly, through the Mediation of Christ.