It were absurd to speak of receiving a physical or compulsory influence by faith. Nor, in the nature of the case, can eternal life, although absolutely given, and left at the option of every man, be received in any other way, than by simple faith. This gift is entirely irrespective of works of any kind on our own part. Nor do works of law, or any other kind of works, bring us any nearer the reception of it. Faith alone receives it.
Unbelief alone rejects it.
This is expressly affirmed in the text. Holiness is supreme love. Now if any of you have not this evidence, the witness of your own consciousness, I beg of you to put away your hope and your talk about eternal life. From what has been said, every one of you must know whether you have eternal life. You who do not believe, and thus receive eternal life, are making God a liar.