A30137:311
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.
3. Of the forgiveness of Sin upon true Repentance, &c.
Answ. All these things may be Assented to, where yet the Grace of the Gospel is not; but yet the Apprehension must be such, as is the Light, by which they are discovered; but the Light of Nature cannot discover them, according to the Light and Nature of the Gospel; because the Gospel Knowledge of them, ariseth also from another Principle: So then, these Doctrines are not Confirmed by the Gospel, as the Light of Nature teacheth them: Wherefore, Paul, speaking of the things of the Gospel, and so consequently of these,1 he saith, Which things also we speak, NOT in the WORDS which MAN'S Wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual. As if he should say, We speak of God, of the Soul, of the Life to come, of Repentance, of Forgiveness of Sins, &c. Not as Philosophers DO, nor yet in their Light; but as Saints, Christians, and Sons of God; as such who have received, not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us, of God.
Answ. All these things may be Assented to, where yet the Grace of the Gospel is not; but yet the Apprehension must be such, as is the Light, by which they are discovered; but the Light of Nature cannot discover them, according to the Light and Nature of the Gospel; because the Gospel Knowledge of them, ariseth also from another Principle: So then, these Doctrines are not Cofirmed by the Gospel, as the Light of Nature teacheth them: Wherefore, Paul, speaking of the things of the Gospel, and so consequently of these,1 he saith, Which things also we speak, NOT in the WORDS which MAN'S Wisdom teacheth, but which the HOLY GHOST teacheth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual. As if he shoul say, We speak of God, of the Soul, of the Life to come, of Repentance, of Forgiveness of Sins, &c. Not as Philosophers DO, nor yet in their Light; but as Saints, Christians, and Sons of God; as such who have received, not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us, of God.