[²] Hebrews xii. 14.
*It is allowed also, that repentance[¹] and fruits meet for repentance[²], go before faith. Repentance absolutely must go before faith: fruits meet for it, if there be opportunity. By repentance, I mean, conviction of sin, producing real desires and sincere resolutions of amendment: and by fruits meet for repentance, forgiving our brother[³], ceasing from evil[⁴], doing good, using the ordinances of God[⁵], and in general obeying him according to the measure of grace which we have received[⁶]. But these, I cannot as yet, term good works; because they do not spring from faith and the love of God.
[¹] Mark i. 15.
[²] Matthew iii. 8.
[³] Matthew vi. 14, 15.
[⁴] Luke iii. 4, 9. &c.
[⁵] Matthew vii. 7.
[⁶] Matthew xxv. 29.
3. By salvation I mean, not barely, according to the vulgar notion, deliverance from hell, or going to heaven: but a present deliverance from sin, a restoration of the soul to its primitive health, its original purity; a recovery of the divine nature; the renewal of our souls after the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness, in justice, mercy, and truth. This implies all holy and heavenly tempers, and by consequence all holiness of conversation.
Now, if by salvation we mean, a present salvation from sin, we cannot say, holiness is the condition of it. For it is the thing itself. Salvation, in this sense, and holiness are synonymous terms. We must therefore say, We are saved by faith. Faith is the sole condition of this salvation. For without faith we cannot be thus saved. But whosoever believeth, is saved already.