_Q._ 3. But must not repentance and works meet for repentance go before this faith? _A._ Without doubt: if by repentance you mean conviction of sin; and by works meet for repentance, obeying God as far as we can, forgiving our brother, leaving off from evil, doing good, and using his ordinances according to the power we have received. _Q._ 4. What is faith? _A._ Faith in general is, a divine, supernatural _elenchos_ of things not seen; _i. e._ of past, future, or spiritual things: it is a spiritual sight of God and the things of God. First, a sinner is convinced by the Holy Ghost, “Christ loved me and gave himself for me.”――This is that faith by which he is justified or pardoned, the moment he receives it. Immediately the same Spirit bears witness, “Thou art pardoned: thou hast redemption in his blood.”――And this is saving faith, whereby the love of God is shed abroad in his heart. _Q._ 5. Have all Christians this faith? May not a man be justified and not know it? _A._ That all true Christians have such a faith as implies an assurance of God’s love, appears from _Romans_ viii. 15. _Ephesians_ iv. 32. _2 Corinthians_ xiii. 5. _Hebrews_ viii. 10. _1 John_ iv. 10. and v. 19. And that no man can be justified and not know it, appears farther from the nature of the thing. For faith after repentance is ease after pain, rest after toil, light after darkness. It appears also from the immediate, as well as distant fruits thereof. _Q._ 6. But may not a man go to heaven without it? _A._ It does not appear from holy writ that a man who hears the gospel, can: (_Mark_ xvi. 16.) whatever a Heathen may do. _Romans_ ii. 14. _Q._ 7. What are the immediate fruits of justifying faith? _A._ Peace, joy, love, power over all outward sin, and power to keep down inward sin. _Q._ 8. Does any one believe, who has not the witness in himself, or any longer than he sees, loves, obeys God? _A._ We apprehend not; _seeing God_ being the very essence of faith; love and obedience the inseparable properties of it. _Q._ 9. What sins are consistent with justifying faith? _A._ No _wilful sin_. If a believer _wilfully sins_, he casts away his faith. Neither is it possible he should have _justifying faith_ again, without previously _repenting_. _Q._ 10. _Must_ every believer, come into a state of doubt, or fear, or darkness? Will he do so, unless by ignorance, or unfaithfulness? Does God otherwise withdraw himself? _A._ It is certain, a believer, _need_ never again come into condemnation. It seems, he need not come into a state of doubt, or fear, or darkness: and that (ordinary at least) he _will_ not, unless by ignorance, or unfaithfulness. Yet it is true, that the first joy does seldom last long: that it is commonly followed by doubts and fears; and that God frequently permits great heaviness, before any large manifestation of himself. _Q._ 11. Are works necessary to the continuance of faith?