A30137:272
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 Believing of Abraham was, while yet he was Uncircumcised; and Circumcision was added, not to save him by, but as a Seal of the Righteousness of THAT Faith, which he had being yet Uncircumcised. 1Now we know that Circumcision in the Flesh, was a Type of Circumcision in the heart; wherefore the Faith that Abraham had, before his outward Circumcision, was to show us, that Faith if it be right, layeth hold upon the Righteousness of Christ, before we be Circumcised inwardly▪ and this must needs be so; for if Faith doth Purify the Heart; then it must be there before the Heart is Purified. Now this inward Circumcision is a Seal, or Sign of this; That that is the only saving Faith, that layeth hold upon Christ before we be Circumcised. But he that believeth, before he be inwardly Circumcised, must believe in another, in a Righteousness without him, and that as he standeth at present in himself Ungodly, for he is not Circumcised; which Faith, if it be right approveth it self also, so to be, by an after Work of Circumcising inwardly. But, I say, the Soul that thus layeth hold on ⟨p. 61⟩Christ, taketh the only way to please his God, because this is that also, which himself hath determined shall be accomplished upon us. But unto him that worketh, is the Reward, not reckoned of Grace, but of Debt; but to him that Worketh not, but Believeth in him that Justifieth the UNGODLY, his Faith is counted for Righteousness, Rom. 4. He that is Ungodly hath a want of Righteousness, even of the inward Righteousness of Works: But what must become of him? Let him Believe in him that Justifieth the Ungodly; because for that purpose there is in him a Righteousness. We will now return to Paul himself; he had Righteousness before he was Justified by Christ; yet he chose to be Justified, rather as an unrighteous man, then as one Endued with so brave a Qualification. That I may be found in him, not having mine own Righteousness▪ away with mine own Righteousness; I choose rather to be Justified as Ungodly by the Righteousness of Christ, than by mine own, and his together, Phil. 3.