A30137:413
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.
Sixthly, And that the right explication of the imputation of Christ's Righteousness, is this, that it Consisteth in having to do with persons that are sincerely Righteous, Pag. 225. For it is not possible for Christ's Righteousness to be imputed to an unrighteous Man, Pag. 120.
These things, with many like to them, being the main points by this Man handled, and by him asserted to be the design of Christianity, by these we must, as by a Rule, and Standard, understand how to Judge of the truth of Doctrines. And (saith he) Seeing the Design of Christianity is to make Men Holy, (still meaning from Principles of Humanity, and by Possessing us again, with the often repeated Holiness which we had lost) whatsoever opinions do either directly, or in their evident Consequences obstruct the promoting of it, are perfectly false. Pag. 227, 228.
Answ. Thus with one Word, as if he were Lord, and Judge himself, he sendeth to the Pit of Hell, all things that Sanctify, or make Holy the hearts of Men, if they oppose the Design of his Christianity. But what if the Holy Ghost will become a Principle in the hearts of the Converted, and will not now suffer them to act simply, and alone, upon the Principles of pure Humanity; or what now if Faith will become a Principle to act by, instead of these that are Originally Dictates of Humane Nature? Or, what if a Man should act now as a Son, rather then simply as a Creature endued with a Principle of Reason? I question here, whether these things thus doing do not obstruct, put by, yea, and take the way of his Pure Humanity, Dictates of Humane Nature; and instead thereof, Act, and Govern the Soul by, and with their own Principles. For albeit, there be the Dictates of Humane Nature in the Sons of Men, yet neither is this Nature, nor yet the Dictates of it, laid by Jesus Christ as the truly Christian Principles in his. But you add:
Answ. Thus with one Word, as if he were Lord, and Judge himself, he sendeth to the Pit of Hell, all things that Sanctifie, or make Holy the hearts of Men, if they oppose the Design of his Christianity. But what if the Holy Ghost will become a Principle in the hearts of the Converted, and will not now suffer them to act simply, and alone, upon the Principles of pure Humanity; or what now if Faith will become a Principle to act by, instead of these that are Originally Dictates of Humane Nature? Or, what if a Man should act now as a Son, rather then simply as a Creature indued with a Principle of Reason? I question here, whether these things thus doing do not obstruct, put by, yea, and take the way of his Pure Humanity, Dictates of Humane Nature; and instead thereof, Act, and Govern the Soul by, and with their own Principles. For albeit, there be the Dictates of Humane Nature in the Sons of Men, yet neither is this Nature, nor yet the Dictates of it, laid by Jesus Christ as the truly Christian Principles in his. But you add: