A30137:532
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.
1. Christ Jesus did never set himself forth for an example, that we by imitating his steps in Morals, should obtain Justification with God, from the Curse of that Law; For this would be to overthrow, and utterly abolish the Work which himself came into the World to accomplish, which was not to be our example, that we by treading his steps might have Remission of Sins, but that through the Faith of him, through Faith in his Blood we might be reconciled to God.
1. Christ Jesus did never set himself forth for an example, that we by imitating his steps in Morrals, should obtain Justification with God, from the Curse of that Law; For this would be to overthrow, and utterly abolish the Work which himself came into the World to accomplish, which was not to be our example, that we by treading his steps might have Remission of Sins, but that through the Faith of him, through Faith in his Blood we might be reconciled to God.
2. Besides, thus to imitate Christ, is to make of him a Saviour, not by Sacrifice, but by example: Nay, to speak the whole, this would be to make his Mediatorship wholly to centre, rather in prescribing of Rules, and exacting obedience to Morals, then in giving himself a ransom for Men. Yea, I will add, to imitate Christ, as you have prescribed, may be done by him, that yet may be ignorant of the excellency of his Person, and the chief end of his being made Flesh: For in all these things which you have discoursed in that fifth Chapter of him; you have only spoken of that, something of which is apprehended by the light of Nature. Yea, Nature it self will teach, that men should trust in God, which is the most excellent▪ Particular that there you mention: Wherefore our Lord Jesus himself foreseeing, that in Men there will be a proudness, to content themselves with that Confidence, he intimateth that it would be in us insignificant, if it stand without Faith in himself; Ye believe naturally in God; saith he,1 Believe also in me. Faith in Jesus is as absolutely necessary as to believe immediately in the Divine being: Yea, without Faith in Jesus, whosoever believeth in God is sure to perish, and burn in Hell. If you believe not that I am he, ye shall dye in your Sins.