Faith justifies only as a means of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, and his righteousness; it is spoken of faith merely in relation to its object. If this can be made good, then all the disputes that men raise about the ingredients and acts of justifying faith, are rendered useless at once. If faith justify as our Gospel righteousness, then indeed there is no doubt but assent and consent, knowledge, choice, affiance, and obedience (with perhaps twenty things more) are included in it. But if Christ be our righteousness in very deed (which I hope is proved), then faith can justify only as an instrument; and its act is receiving and trusting in that righteousness of Christ.

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