A30137:283
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.
I Conclude therefore, that you argue not Gospelly, in that you so boldly Affirm, that it would signify as little to the Happiness of one, to be Justified by Christ's Righteousness, while a Sinner; as would a Gorgeous and Splendid Garment to one that is ready to perish. For farther, Thus to be Justified is Meat and Drink to the Sinner; and so the beginning of Eternal Life in him. My Flesh is Meat indeed, said Christ, and my Blood is Drink indeed: And he that Eateth my Flesh, and Drinketh my Blood, hath Eternal, or Everlasting Life. He Affirmeth it once again. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that Eateth me, even he shall live by me, John 6. Here now is a Man an Hungered; what must he feed upon? Not his pure Humanity, not upon the sound Complexion of his Soul, nor yet on the Dictates of his Humane Nature, nor those neither, which you call, truly Generous Principles: But upon the Flesh, and Blood of the Son of God, which was once given for the ⟨p. 63⟩Sin of the World. Let those then, that would be saved from the Devil, and Hell, and that would find a Fountain of Grace in themselves, first receive, and feed upon Christ, as Sinners, and Ungodly. Let them believe that both his Body, and Blood, and Soul, was offered for them, as they were Sinners. The believing of this, is the Eating of Christ; this eating of Christ, is the beginning of Eternal Life, to wit, of all Grace, and health in the Soul; and of Glory to be Enjoyed most perfectly in the next World.
I Conclude therefore, that you argue not Gospelly, in that you so boldly Affirm, that it would signifie as little to the Happiness of one, to be Justified by Christ's Righteousness, while a Sinner; as would a Gorgeous and Splendid Garment to one that is ready to perish. For farther, Thus to be Justified is Meat and Drink to the Sinner; and so the beginning of Eternal Life in him. My Flesh is Meat indeed, said Christ, and my Blood is Drink indeed: And he that Eateth my Flesh, and Drinketh my Blood, hath Eternal, or Everlasting Life. He Affirmeth it once again. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that Eateth me, even he shall live by me, John 6. Here now is a Man an Hungred; what must he feed upon? Not his pure Humanity, not upon the sound Complexion of his Soul, nor yet on the Dictates of his Humane Nature, nor those neither, which you call, truly Generous Principles: But upon the Flesh, and Blood of the Son of God, which was once given for the