A40370:160
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.
Concerning Righteousness, and its definition given by Osorius, and others.
Thou hast, ingenuous Reader, the whole Model of Osorian Righteousness described in a short compend: in which, what is true and what is faulty, it remains that we should examine with like brevity according to the Rules of Evangelical Doctrine, beginning first at the ⟨p. 89⟩very definition of righteousness, because thereupon depends the substance of the whole Controversy. For so Osorius defines Righteousness, that it is a state of Soul founded on the Law of God, and that bears a clear resemblance to the immutability of the Divine Virtue. In like manner also Andradius not much differing from him. Righteousness, saith 1he, is an unmoveable equity, and government of mind, which measures all its actions and counsels by the Law of God. And the same again presently: Righteousness is a habit of mind fashioned by the Divine Law to obey that Divine Law and Will, as it persuades to perform the Offices of every virtue, &C. So that I need not here gather together the definitions of others of the Party, of whom I find so many to be of the same Opinion, that they think a Righteous Man should be defined from works of Righteousness, just as a wise Man from Wisdom, a Musician from Music; and other Artificers are formally denominated from the internal Skill they have in those Arts, and wherewith they are endued, as saith Tapperus; which would not 2seem very blame-worthy to me, if they understood this of the Divine Righteousness, whereby God is Righteous, or wherewith Angels are accomplished. But as touching our Righteousness, who are Men, and Sinners, this definition hath no place here at all.
THou hast, ingenuous Reader, the whole Model of Osorian Righteousness described in a short compend: in which, what is true and what is faulty, it remains that we should examine with like brevity according to the Rules of Evangelical Doctrine, beginning first at the