A40370:245
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.
Therefore we have an example singularly excellent, which we may ⟨p. 139⟩imitate. We have also together with an example, a commendation by the mouth of the Apostle, by whom Charity is called the bond of perfection. Moreover there is not wanting the Preaching of Divines, who in their Books, in their Exercises, in their Sermons, do attribute so much to Charity, that they call It the form, the perfection, and the very life of faith, without which there is no other virtue, that can be helpful to Salvation: And now I need not here in many words declare what agreement there is between the Doctrine of those great extollers of Charity, and the practice of their lives; seeing there are so many proofs before our eyes, so many ten thousands of men slain do witness it, and so great abundance of Christian blood shed; there is so great outrage of Persecution every where; there is nothing safe from slaughter, fury, tumult, snares, contentions, dangers, articles of Inquisition, bonds, 1and imprisonments. In some places the Turk makes havoc with the Sword, and elsewhere with flames and smoke. And the Fathers of the Roman Court exercise Cruelty. First, they make Laws written with blood, which afterwards they commit to Political Monarchs to be promulgated, and to the other Officers to be executed by Law. On 2the sudden, Citizens of good repute, and Learned Ministers are violently haled to examinations, and afterwards to death, if any Man dare but open his mouth against the manifest ⟨p. 140⟩abuses of errors, they spare neither Age, nor Sex, nor Condition. Thus (forsooth) those perfect Roman Catholic Nobles imitate the Charity of Christ, so they follow his Divine Life, so they resemble his death, so they show forth his meekness, so they bear the Image of the Divine Father, so they wholly and more than wholly form and fashion themselves from the imitation of the earthly Father, to the example of the Heavenly. Who justly deserve to hear from the Lord: ye are those that justify your selves before men, but God knoweth your hearts; for that which is of high account before Men, is abominable before God.
Therefore we have an example singularly excellent, which we may