A40370:246
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.
What if the most Holy Popes, and purple Cardinals, those Chiefest Dignitaries of the Church, with all this your Order of Bishops, and the most strict Orders of Monks, who by Place, Dignity, and Profession seem to approach nearest unto Christ, and to supply his place upon earth, differ so much from him, what cause is there why we should hope better of the whole body of the common people, or that any Man should promise himself Salvation in following the footsteps of Christ? but (God willing) I shall elsewhere make enquiry into this just matter of complaint.
What if the most Holy Popes, and purple Cardinals, those Chiefest Dignitaries of the Church, with all this your Order of Bishops, and the most strict Orders of Monks, who by Place, Dignity, and Profession seem to approach nearest unto Christ, and to supply his place upon earth, differ so much from him, what cause is there why we should hope better of the whole body of the common people, or that any Man should promise himself Salvation in following the footsteps of Christ? but (God willing) I shall elsewhere make enquity into this just matter of complaint.
Now let us return to you, Osorius, whose so godly and eloquent exhortations about putting on and imitating Christ, I am so far from slighting, that I desire they may remain most firmly fixed in the minds of men; for as nothing appears in the most holy manners of Christ, which is not very worthy of imitation; so no ⟨p. 141⟩part of duty seems more agreeable to every Christian, than that all of us should endeavour with all our might to resemble the image proposed unto us; especially seeing Paul so gravely, and that in more places than one, calls us hereunto, who making a Comparison of both Fathers, Adam, and Christ, declares what we received of both. By Man, 1saith he, came death, and by Man came the Resurrection from the dead. And presently after, proceeding on that matter, the first Man was of the earth earthly, the second Man is the Lord from Heaven. And afterwards concluding with words to the same purpose, and exhorting us to imitate the example of his obedience, he subjoins; as we have born, saith he, the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly. And the Apostle Peter, not differing much from Paul, proposes Christ for an Example of all long suffering; for, saith he,