The assent of the understanding to any truth. Religious faith is assent to the truth of divine revelation and of the events and doctrines contained in it. This may be merely historical, without producing any effect on our lives and conversation; and it is then a dead faith, such as even the devils have. But a living or saving faith not only believes the great doctrines of religion as true, but embraces them with the heart and affections; and is thus the source of sincere obedience to the divine will, exhibited in the life and conversation. Faith in Christ is a grace wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, whereby we receive Christ as our Savior, our Prophet, Priest, and King, and love and obey him as such. This living faith in Christ is the means of salvation-not meritoriously, but instrumentally. Without it there can be no forgiveness of sins, and no holiness of life; and they who are justified by faith, live and walk by faith, Mark 16:16 John 3:15,16 Acts 16:31 1 John 5:10 .

True faith is an essential grace, and a mainspring of Christian life. By it the Christian overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil, and receives the crown of righteousness, 1 Timothy 4:7-8 . In virtue of it, worthy men of old wrought great wonders, Hebrews 11:1-40 Acts 14:9 1 Corinthians 13:2 , being sustained by Omnipotence in doing whatever God enjoined, Matthew 17:20 Mark 9:23 11:23-24 . In Romans 1:8 , faith is put for the exhibition of faith, in the practice of all the duties implied in a profession of faith.