A30137:491
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.
Again, he denieth himself to be a Minister of the Law of Morals. He hath made us able Ministers of the New▪ Testament; no• of the Letter (or Law) but of the Spirit (or Gospel.) The reason is, for the Letter, or Law, can do nothing but kill, Curse, or Condemn, but the Spirit or the Gospel, giveth life. Farther, in comparing, he calls the Law, the Ministration of Death; or that which layeth Death at the Doors of all Flesh; but the Gospel the Ministration of Righteousness, because by this Ministry there is a Revelation of that Righteousness that is fulfilled by the Person of Christ, and to be imputed for Righteousness to them that believe, that they might be delivered from the Ministration of death. How then? hath the Ministration of God no Glory? Yes, forasmuch as it is a Revelation of the Justice of God, against Sin. But yet again, it's Glory is turned into no Glory, when it is compared with that which excelleth. For if the Ministration of Death, Written and Graven in the Stones was glorious, so that the Children of Israel coul• not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the Glory of his countenance which Glory was to be done away: how shall not the Ministration of the Spirit be rather Glorious: For if the Ministration of Condemnation be Glory, much more doth the Ministration of Righteousness ⟨p. 99⟩exceed in Glory: For even that which was made Glorious hath no Glory in this respect, by reason of the Glory that excelleth, 2 Cor. 3. 9, 10.
Again, he denyeth himself to be a Minister of the Law of Morrals. He hath made us able Ministers of the New▪ Testament; no• of the Letter (or Law) but of the Spirit (or Gospel.) The reason is, for the Letter, or Law, can do nothing but kill, Curse, or Condemn, but the Spirt or the Gospel, giveth life. Farther, in comparing, he calls the Law, the Ministration of Death; or that which layeth Death at the Doors of all Flesh; but the Gospel the Ministration of Righteousness, because by this Ministry there is a Revelation of that Righteousness that is fulfilled by the Person of Christ, and to be imputed for Righteousness to them that believe, that they might be delivered from the Ministration of death. How then? hath the Ministration of God no Glory? Yes, forasmuch as it is a Revelation of the Justice of God, against Sin. But yet again, it's Glory is turned into no Glory, when it is compared with that which excelleth. For if the Ministration of Death, Written and Graven in the Stones was glorious, so that the Children of Israel coul not stedfastly behold the face of Moses, for the Glory of his countenanc which Glory was to be done away: how shall not the Ministratio of the Spirit be rather Glorious: For if the Ministration of Condemnation be Glory, much more doth the Ministration of Righteousness