Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, It is considerable what the Scripture means, when it saith, that we are justified by faith; doth it mean the act of faith, or the habit? if the act, there seem to be as many intercisions in justification, as there are cessations in the act of faith; upon which account I suppose that the vinculum unionis, the bond of Union whereby the Believer is knit unto Christ, is not a transient thing, such as the act of faith is, but a permanent one, such as the habit; if then the habit be the thing, that abides in the believer, notwithstanding his sin.

Fourthly, It is to me very momentous, that though sins of infirmity and enormity differ in proportion as much as Gnats and Camels, yet the least of them deserves condemnation as well as the greatest, and the greatest of them may have pardon in the very same way as the least. There are not in the Gospel two distinct ways appointed for pardon; one way for the pardon of infirmities, and another way for the pardon of gross sins: but there is one undivided way of faith and repentance appointed for both. Which being so, it follows, that if the believers gross sins be not forgiven till after actual faith and repentance, then neither are his infirmities ⟨p. 226⟩forgiven till then; and by consequence the believer cannot continue justified no not for a minute; the multitudes of infirmities, which are ever swarming in him, would put him into a state of death every moment. Nay, as worthy Mr. Wall hath well observed, in ictu mortis, ¹in the very last stroke of death he may perish, unless the last operation of his spirit be actual faith and repentance. These things persuade me, that the gross sins of believers are at least in some sense pardoned before their fresh acts of faith, and repentance; touching which Divines speak variously. Mr. Baxter saith, That Believers as soon as they sin have an imperfect pardon, though not plenary. ²Mr. Hildersham saith, They have a pardon upon record in heaven; but not the comfort of it, till by faith and repentance they sue it out, and be able to show and plead it in the Court of their own Conscience. Mr. Burroughs saith, When any Soul is taken into Christ,