How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?

Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it,^[3] nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification;^[2] but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applies Christ and his righteousness.^[3]