A01136:13
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London by John Fox. Containing an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romans. Translated out of Latin into English by James Bell.A sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes. Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell.
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Preface to the Christian Reader, containing godly exhortation.
The Preface to the Christian Reader, conteyning godly exhortation.
Forasmuch as the sum, & absolute perfection of all our righteousness, consisteth in the only faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, without whom all humane power, and puissance is uneffectuall: without whom, no provident policy prevaileth: ne yet any force, or activity of natural operation can bring any thing to pass: no honourable ornament of virtue, no excellency of exquisite learning, is available: according to the testimony of the Lord himself, Without me ye can do nothing: what ought we• silly mortal wretches regard more entirely, then that by due proceeding; in daily renewed increases of this same faith, we not only cleave fast to this Jesus Christ, the assured & undoubted chieftain & Prince of life? And conveying him into the very entrails of our souls, we throughly possess him, as fast enclosed in a certain holy Oratory: but also endeavour ⟨image 4⟩by all means possibly, to be most nearly joined unto him, to be incorporate wholly in him, & made members of his own body? For performance whereof behoveth us, above all other, to be guided by his conduct and coun•el chiefly. Search the Scriptures (saith he) for they bear witness of me. Which saying S. Peter the Apostle doeth verify, advertising us of the same faith: And we have (sayeth he) a more s•re word of the Prophets, whereunto whiles ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, ye do well, until the dawn of the day appear•, & the day star arise in your hearts. Yea, the Lord him self in an other place sendeth us back to the schooling of the Law and the Prophets, as unto infallible precepts, and rules of pure and true doctrine. And albeit I may not deny that testimony of S. Paul to be most true, where he saith, That faith is a gift of God, issuing from his free mercy & bounty: yet doth he not: thereby meanwhiles exclude other lawful and ordinary means, taught for the better attainment thereof. As where he sayeth, Faith cometh by hearing, & hearing by the word of God. So that their error is so much the more blameworthy,