A30137:170
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.
You pretend in the beginning of your Second Chapter, to prove your Assertion; Viz. That the great Errand that Christ came upon, was to put us again into possession of that Holiness which we had lost. For Proof whereof you bring John the Baptist's Doctrine, and the Angels saying to Zechariah, and the Prophet Malachi (Mat. 3. 12. Luke 1. 16, 17. Mal. 3. 1, 2, 3.) In which Texts there is as much for your purpose, and no more, then there is in a perfect Blank: For which of them speak a Word of the Righteousness or Holiness which we have lost? Or, where is it said, either by these mentioned, or by the whole Scripture, that we are to be restored TO, and put again into Possession of that Holiness? These are but the Dictates of your Humane Nature.
You pretend in the beginning of your Second Chapter, to prove your Assertion; Viz. That the great Errand that Christ came upon, was to put us again into possession of that Holiness which we had lost. For Proof whereof you bring John the Baptist's Doctrine, and the Angels saying to Zacharias, and the Prophet Malachi (Mat. 3. 12. Luke 1. 16, 17. Mal. 3. 1, 2, 3.) In which Texts there is as much for your purpose, and no more, then there is in a perfect Blanck: For which of them speak a Word of the Righteousness or Holiness which we have lost? Or, where is it said, either by these mentioned, or by the whole Scripture, that we are to be restored TO, and put again into Possession of that Holiness? These are but the Dictates of your Humane Nature.
John's Ministry was, To make ready a People prepared for the Lord Jesus: not to Possess them with themselves, and their own (but now lost) Holiness. And so the Angel told his Father, saying, Many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God: Not to Adam's Innocency, or to the Holiness that we lost by him. Neither did the Prophet Malachi Prohesie that Christ at his coming should put men again in Possession of the Holiness we had lost. And I say again, As you here fall short of your Purpose, so I Challenge you to produce but one piece of a Text, that in the least looketh to such a thing. The whole Tenor of the Scripture, that speaks of the Errand of Christ Jesus, tells us another Lesson, to wit, That