A40370:241
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.
Who denies or is Ignorant of that, O Osorius? Who is so void of all Religion and 1Sense, but is ready of his own accord, and with his whole Heart to confess that very thing to you; which that you may persuade; you do not only explain, but also draw forth all the force and efficacy of Speech that you can upon it with so much earnestness and vehemency? First, who is so Ignorant, but knows what we received from both our Parents, of which you dispute so prolixly? The thing it self, and the experience of all things does abundantly make it evident into what deceits and straits, into what a gulf of miseries the former hath brought us into: So on the contrary, how many, and how great good things have proceeded from the other ⟨p. 136⟩Father; I think it is unknown to no Man. Whose acts for us if we consider, what is more excellent? If the greatness of his benefits, what more Divine? If his Life it self every way perfect with all purity of the greatest Virtues, what more admirable? Unto whose example, as the most perfect rule for imitation, seeing you invite us so earnestly; I must needs both willingly approve of your Piety therein, and also give you thanks upon this account for your diligence. And so much the more, upon the account that the unhappy calamity of these times does so greatly need such incitements, which I know not by what means, having obliterated the footsteps of the Heavenly Adam, seem to have degenerated again unto the Earthly Father, with a perfect conspiracy. Wherefore, I could the rather with to these manners and times, that those things which are very well discoursed of by you, concerning following the Example of Christ, concerning the resembling of his Death, concerning imitating his Divine Life; may pierce not only the Ears of Men, but also the most inward parts of their minds. For what is more solid for Advice, or more seasonable for the Time, than that which you so much enlarge upon, with a plentiful amplification of Words; that every Man according to his power should propose unto himself Christ the chiefest Example of all Virtue, and Master of Life, for Imitation and Resemblance: That having rooted out the filth and relics of the Old Nature; ⟨p. 137⟩He may drive away very far from him with a resolved and magnanimous Spirit all Taints of impurity: