A30137:146
A defence of the doctrine of justification, by faith in Jesus Christ
A defence of the doctrine of justification, by faith in Jesus Christ: showing, true Gospel-holiness flows from thence. Or, Mr. Fowler's pretended design of Christianity, proved to be nothing more then to trample under foot the blood of the Son of God and the idolizing of man's own righteousness. As also, how while he pretends to be a minister of the Church of England, he overthroweth the wholesome doctrine contained in the 10th. 11th. and 13th. of the Thirty Nine Articles of the same, and that he falleth in with the Quaker, and Romanist, against them. By John Bunyan.A defence of the doctrine of justification, by faith in Jesus Christ: shewing, true Gospel-holiness flows from thence. Or, Mr. Fowler's pretended design of Christianity, proved to be nothing more then to trample under foot the blood of the Son of God and the idolizing of man's own righteousness. As also, how while he pretends to be a minister of the Church of England, he overthroweth the wholesom doctrine contained in the 10th. 11th. and 13th. of the Thirty Nine Articles of the same, and that he falleth in with the Quaker, and Romanist, against them. By John Bunyan.
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1673
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 Scriptures that frequently affirm; that the end of Christs Death wa• the forgiveness of our sins, and the reconciling of us to the Father, we are not SO to understand, as if the blessings were absolutely thereby procured for us. (page 91.) any otherwise, then upon the account of our effectual believing. I answer.
By the Death of Christ was the Forgiveness of Sins effectually obtained for all that shall be saved, and they even while yet Enemies, by that were reconciled unto God. So that, as to forgiveness from God, it is purely upon the account of grace in Christ;1 We are justified by his Blood, we are reconciled to God by the Death of his Son. 2Rom. 5•. Yea peace is made by the Blood of his Cross; And God for Christs sake hath forgiven us. So then, our effectual believing, is not a procuring cause in the sight of God; or a condition of ours ⟨p. 32⟩foreseen by God, and the motive that prevaileth with him to forgive us our manifold transgressions: Believing being rather that which makes Application, of that Forgiveness, and that possesseth the Son with that Peace, that already is made for us with God, by the Blood of his Son Christ Jesus; Being justified by Faith, 3we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The peace and comfort of it cometh not to the Soul, but by believing. Yet the Work is finished▪ Pardon procured, Justice being satisfied already, or before, by the precious Blood of Christ.