A40370:127
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
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.
For, that we may openly confess the truth, what else is this whole life of Godly Men, but a continual repentance, and a perpetual detestation and condemnation of sin, whilst we are forced by the Gospel with daily groans to breath forth this Petition? Forgive us our sins, as if we were conflicting in a continual place of wrestling, in which sometimes we stand by the Spirit, sometimes we fall through the infirmity of the Flesh, and sometimes we again make new repentance, yet we always overcome and triumph by Faith, to wit, obtaining the pardon of our faults, and we obtain true righteousness for ever. Therefore away with impudent slanders; let just judgment be exercised, and let things be comprehended each in their own places and bounds.
Pious tears, a serious deploring of former destruction, and a just care of living a better life, with all other pious exercises, are things, which we do not thrust away, nor put out of their place, only we search what is the place, what is the peculiar office of those things. And in the first place this is a thing that 1should not be doubted of by any Man, that Repentance, as it is an excellent gift of God, so it brings forth fruits not to be repented of, according to its Office; the Office ⟨p. 66⟩or duty whereof I reckon to be 2twofold. The first is, that which duly detests the sins committed. The other, that which diligently endeavours the Reformation of the life, from which follows both great praise, and greater fruits, and also very great incitements to virtue. For he that being weary of his former wickedness applies his mind wholly to amend his ungodly Life by a future reformation; verily he hath made a great progress towards Salvation, but he is not therefore as yet put into a certain possession of Salvation, or because of that, taken up with the Penitent Malefactor into Paradise. For it is one thing to weep for the things that one hath done amiss, and another thing to obtain the pardon of them. Verily he that seriously purposes with himself to amend his life, I judge that he ought justly to be praised; but yet that is not enough, as I suppose, to turn away the anger of an offended God, to put away the heinous nature of Sin, to procure a clear tranquility of