3. I cannot describe the nature of this faith better, than in the words of our own church. “The only instrument of salvation” (whereof justification is one branch) “is faith: that is, a sure trust and confidence, that God both hath and will forgive our sins, that he hath accepted us again into his favour, for the merits of Christ’s death and passion.――But here we must take heed that we do not halt with God, through an inconstant, wavering faith. _Peter_ coming to Christ upon the water, because he fainted in faith, was in danger of drowning. So we, if we begin to waver or doubt, it is to be feared, that we should sink as _Peter_ did, not into the water, but into the bottomless pit of hell-fire.” Second sermon on the passion. “Therefore have a sure and constant faith, not only that the death of Christ is available for all the world, but that he hath made a full and sufficient sacrifice for _thee_, a perfect cleansing of _thy_ sins, so that thou mayst say with the apostle, he loved _thee_ and gave himself for _thee_. For this is to make Christ _thine own_, and to apply his merits unto _thyself_.” Sermon on the sacrament, first part. 4. By affirming that this faith is the term or _condition of justification_, I mean, first, that there is no justification without it. _He that believeth not is condemned already_; and so long as he believeth not, that condemnation cannot be removed, but _the wrath of God abideth on him_. As _there is no other name given under heaven than that of Jesus of Nazareth_, no other merit _whereby_ a condemned sinner can ever _be saved_ from the guilt of sin; so there is no other way of obtaining a share in his merit, than _by faith in his name_. So that as long as we are without this faith, we are _strangers to the covenant of promise_, we are _aliens from the common-wealth of Israel, and without God in the world_. Whatsoever virtues (so call’d) a man may have (I speak of those unto whom the gospel is preached; for _what have I to judge them that are without_?) whatsoever good works (so accounted) he may do, it profiteth not; he is still a _child of wrath_, still under the curse, till he believes in Jesus.