A40370:112
Of free justification
Of free justification by Christ written first in Latin by John Fox, author of the Book of martyrs, against Osorius, &c. and now translated into English, for the benefit of those who love their own souls, and would not be mistaken in so great a point.Of free justification by Christ written first in Latine by John Fox, author of the Book of martyrs, against Osorius, &c. and now translated into English, for the benefit of those who love their own souls, and would not be mistaken in so great a point.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1694
Book 1 › The Absurdities that arise from the Osorian Righteousness.
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.
But that we may rightly examine, what that cause is, first the degrees of causes must be distinguished, of which some are related unto God, and others to men. On Gods part in the first place comes his infinite Mercy, Predestination, Election, the Grace of the Promise and Vocation, of which Paul speaks in more places than one: Who hath Predestinated us, saith he, unto the adoption of Sons by Jesus Christ, whom he hath Predestinated, that they should be conformed to the Image of ⟨p. 55⟩his Son, them he hath also called, whom he hath called, them he hath also justified, &c.
But that we may rightly examine, what that cause is, first the degrees of causes must be distinguished, of which some are related unto God, and others to men. On Gods part in the first place comes his infinite Mercy, Predestination, Election, the Grace of the Promise and Vocation, of which Paul speaks in more places than one: Who hath Predestinated us, saith he, unto the adoption of Sons by Iesus Christ, whom he hath Predestinated, that they should be conformed to the Image of ⟨p. 55⟩his Son, them he hath also called, whom he hath called, them he hath also justified, &c.
In the next order follows the 1Donation of his Dear Son, his Obedience, Death, Sufferings, Merits, Redemption, Resurrection, Forgiveness of Sin: As for those things which proceed from God, there is no great controversy between us. But our Opinions differ concerning those things, which are called causes on Man's part; to wit, whether there is one cause only or more? Whether Faith only without 2Works, or Works joined together with Faith? And this is the thing about which now we contend, O Osorius, for in these Books you do dispute about the righteousness of works at such a rate, that you suppose Faith, only without these additions, so Insufficient to perform any thing towards the purchasing Salvation, that it is your Opinion, That this Faith of Christ only, if it be separated from the help of Works, deserves not to be called the Faith of Christ, but a head-strong rashness, an insolent confidence, an impudent boldness, an outrageous madness, an execrable Wickedness: Which sort of Words, how little modesty they savour of, it is needless here to inquire. But how far they differ from truth, and the inviolable authority of Sacred Scriptures, it will be requisite to take notice; because at present this is the matter of debate between us.