A30137:263
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.
Your Tenth Chapter Consisteth in a Commendation of Virtue, but still of that, and no other, though Counterfeited for another, then at first you have Described, (Chap. 1.) even such, which is as much in the Heathens you make mention of, as in any other man, being the same both in Root, and Branches, which is Naturally to be found in all men, even as is Sin and Wickedness it self. And hence you call it here, A living up to your feigned highest Principle, like a Creature Possessed of a Mind and Reason. Again, While we do thus, we act most agreeable to the right frame and temper of our Souls; and Consequently most Naturally; and all the actions of Nature, are confessedly very sweet and Pleasant; of which very thing you say, the Heathens had a very great Sense. Pag. 113. 114.
Your Tenth Chapter Consisteth in a Commendation of Vertue, but still of that, and no other, though Counterfeited for another, then at first you have Described, (Chap. 1.) even such, which is as much in the Heathens you make mention of, as in any other man, being the same both in Root, and Branches, which is Naturally to be found in all men, even as is Sin and Wickedness it self. And hence you call it here, A living up to your feigned highest Principle, like a Creature Possessed of a Mind and Reason. Again, While we do thus, we act most agreeable to the right frame and temper of our Souls; and Consequently most Naturally; and all the actions of Nature, are confessedly very sweet and Pleasant; of which very thing you say, the Heathens had a very great Sence. Pag. 113. 114.
Answ. No marvel, for it was their Work, not to search the deep things of God, but those which be the things of a man, and to Discourse of that Righteousness, and Principle of Holiness, which was Naturally founded, and found within themselves, as Men; or, as you say, as Creatures Possessed with a mind, and Reason: But as I have already showed, all this may be, where the Holy Ghost and Faith is absent, even by the Dictates, as you call them, of Humane Nature; a Principle, and actions, when trusted to that, as much please the Devil, as any Wickedness, that is committed by the Sons of Men. I should not have thus boldly Inserted it, but that your self did (Pag. 101.) tell me of it: but I believe it was only Extorted from you; your Judgement, and your Apollo suit not here, though indeed the Devil is in the right; for this Righteousness and Holiness which is our own, and of our selves, is the greatest enemy to Jesus Christ; the Post, against his Post, and the Wall, against his Wall. I came not to call the Righteous (puts you quite of the World) but Sinners to Repentance.