A30137:445
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. There is yet another sort; And they are such as seem to deny it, both in Principle, and Practice also; only they do it Covertly, PRIVILY bringing in Damnable Heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. These bring upon themselves swift destruction, 2. Pet. 2. 1.
3. There is yet another sort; And they are such as seem to deny it, both in Principle, and Practice also; onely they do it Covertly, PRIVILY bringing in Damnable Heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. These bring upon themselves swift destruction, 2. Pet. 2. 1.
This Third sort, make of the Doctrine of Grace, and of the forgiveness of Sins, through the Faith of the Righteousness of Christ, a Loose, and Licentious Doctrine, or a Doctrine that giveth liberty to the Flesh: By reason of THESE the way of truth is evil spoken of, and the Hearts of Innocent ones Alienated therefrom: These will not stick to charge it upon the very chief of the Brethren, if they shall say, As Sin abounded, Grace hath much more abounded; that they press men to do evil, that good may come of it, Rom. 3. 8, 9. But (as I said) these Vilify Christ, not with open Words, but Covertly; PRIVILY they bring in their Blasphemy under a Cloak, crying, the Law, Holiness, Strictness, good Works, &c. Besides, these clothe their Doctrines with Names and Notions that belong not at all unto them; as of Christ, Grace, the Spirit, the Gospel, when there is only there, the Devil, and his Angels, and Errors; as Angels of Light, and Ministers of Righteousness. Of this last sort, are you, and the subject matter of your Book; for you bring into the World an Antigospel Holiness, ⟨p. 90⟩Holiness, Antigospel Principles, and Antigospel Fundamentals; and that these things might be Worshipped by your Disciples, you give them the Name of Holiness, the Design of Christ, and of Christianity; by which means you remove the Christ of God, from before, and set him behind, forbidding Men to believe on him, till they have Practiced your things first: Nay, after they have Practiced yours, they then must come to God by him; still respecting the Principles and Dictates of Humanity, as things of the greatest weight, things that are good in themselves; Still considering that coming to God by Christ, is not good in it self, but so, only upon the account of certain Circumstances; a thing in it self of an indifferent Nature, and absolutely considered neither good nor evil.