2. Taking the word in a more particular sense, faith is a divine evidence and conviction, not only that _God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself_; but also that _Christ loved_ me, _and gave himself for_ me. It is by this faith, (whether we term it, the _essence_, or rather a _property_ thereof) that we _receive Christ_, that we receive him in all his offices, as our prophet, priest, and king. It is by this that he _is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption_. 3. “But is this the _faith of assurance_, or _faith of adherence_?” The scripture mentions no such distinction. The apostle says, _There is one faith, and one hope of our calling_, one Christian, saving faith, as _there is one Lord_, in whom we believe, and _one God and Father of us all_. And it is certain, this faith necessarily implies an _assurance_ (which is here only another word for _evidence_, it being hard to tell the difference between them) that _Christ loved_ me, _and gave himself for_ me. For _he that believeth_, with the true, living faith, _hath the witness in himself. The Spirit witnesseth with his spirit, that he is a child of God. Because_ he is a _Son, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying Abba, Father_: giving him an assurance that he is so, and a child-like confidence in him. But let it be observed, that, in the very nature of the thing, the assurance goes before the confidence. For a man cannot have a child-like confidence in God, till he knows, he is a child of God. Therefore confidence, trust, reliance, adherence, or whatever else it be called, is not the first, as some have supposed, but the second branch or act of faith. 4. It is by this faith we _are saved_, justified and sanctified, taking that word in its highest sense. But how are we justified and sanctified by faith? This is our third head of enquiry. And this being the main point in question, and a point of no ordinary importance, it will not be improper, to give it a more distinct and particular consideration. III. 1. And first, how are we justified by faith? In what sense is this to be understood? I answer, faith is the condition, and the only condition of justification. It is the condition: none is justified but he that believes; without faith no man is justified. And it is the only condition; this alone is sufficient for justification. Every one that believes is justified, whatever else he has or has not. In other words: no man is justified, ’till he believes: every man when he believes is justified.