But in saying this, you allow all which I have said, viz. That previous to justifying faith, there _must_ be repentance, and if opportunity permit, _Fruits meet for repentance_. *11. And yet I allow you this, that altho’ both repentance and the fruits thereof are in _some sense_ necessary before justification, yet neither the one nor the other is necessary in the _same sense_, or in the _same degree_ with faith. Not in the _same degree_. For in whatever moment a man believes (in the Christian sense of the word) he is justified, his sins are blotted out, _his faith is counted to him for righteousness_. But it is not so, at whatever moment he repents, or brings forth any, or all the fruits of repentance. Faith alone therefore justifies; which repentance alone does not; much less any outward work. And consequently, none of these are necessary to justification, in the _same degree_ with faith. *Nor in the _same sense_. For none of these has so direct, immediate a relation to justification as faith. This is _proximately_ necessary thereto; repentance, _remotely_, as it is necessary to the increase or continuance of faith. And even in this sense, these are only necessary, on supposition――――if there be time and opportunity for them: for in many instances there is not: but God cuts short his work, and faith prevents the fruits of repentance. So that the general proportion is not overthrown, but clearly established by these concessions; and we conclude still, both on the authority of scripture and the church, that faith alone is the proximate condition of justification. III. 1. I was once inclined to believe that none would openly object, against what I had any where said of the _nature of salvation_. How greatly then was I surprised some months ago, when I was shewn a kind of circular letter, which one¹ of those whom _the Holy Ghost hath made overseers_ of his church, I was informed, had sent to all the clergy of his diocese! ¹ The (then) Archbishop of _York_. Part of it ran (nearly, if not exactly) thus: “There is great indiscretion in preaching up a sort of religion, as the true and only Christianity, which in their own account of it, consists in an enthusiastic ardor, to be understood or attained by very few, and not to be practised without breaking in upon the common duties of life.” O my Lord, what manner of words are these! Supposing candour and love out of the question, are they the words of truth? I dare stake my life upon it, there is not one true clause in all this paragraph. The propositions contained therein, are these: 1. That the religion I preach, consists in enthusiastic ardor: 2. That it can be attained by very few: 3. That it can be understood by very few: 4. That it cannot be practised without breaking in upon the common duties of life. 5. And that all this may be proved by my own account of it.