Gill on Regeneration & Faith

Dr. Gill, in his commentary on Philippians 1: 6 said:

"The work of grace upon their hearts, sometimes called the work of faith, because that is a principal part of it..."

"It may be said to be begun as soon as light is let into the soul by the Spirit of God; when it sees its lost state, and need of a Saviour, for as the first thing in the old creation was light, so in the new; when the fear of God is put into the heart, which is the beginning of wisdom; when love appears in the soul to God, to Christ, to his people, word, and ordinances; and when there are the seeing, venturing, and relying acts of faith on Christ, though there is a great deal of darkness, trembling, and unbelief; and when it is got thus far, and even much further, it is but a begun work; it is not yet finished and perfect: this appears from the several parts of this work, which are imperfect, as faith, hope, love, knowledge, &c."

I believe Gill is very clear here. He does not say that regeneration precedes faith, nor does he say faith precedes regeneration, but he says that the "work of grace" (regeneration) is = the "work of faith," because "FAITH IS THE PRINCIPAL PART OF IT."

If faith be the "principal part" of the life of regeneration or work of grace, then one cannot say that he has life if he does not have the "principal part of it."

He says that faith, love, hope, and knowledge are parts OF regeneration, not things that follow after.