A40370:251
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.
But if you ask, what are the the effects of this cause? Who knows not that they are the Fruits of Pious Works, and this very imitation of Christ, which you so greatly (yea and so deservedly cry up and) extol? For who can rightly call himself a Christian, as you say very well, who doth not apply his mind as much as he can. to separate himself from all society of the Earthly Father, and frame and conform himself wholly to the example of the Heavenly: I grant this, to be very true, as indeed it is. For, I do not disallow of that which you do rightly assume, but I confute that, which you would falsely gather from hence. For thus you conclude; To wit, that the whole Magazine 1of our Salvation is placed in this, that by our Pious Labour and Industry, we should purchase the Kingdom of God for our selves: That they, who affirm Faith only is sufficient for Salvation, are mad, and singularly serviceable to the Old Serpent; and that every action we undertake, is wholly ⟨p. 144⟩unprofitable, if Faith only is sufficient. This is the sum of the Epilogue of this whole debate of yours. In which, what do you else, but by an unskilful huddle of things, and without order in disputing, turn causes into effects, and again effects into causes? What? when the Apostle Admonishes that Wives should be subject to their 2Husbands, and acknowledge their Authority, as the Church is subject to Christ her Husband, shall she therefore, that is by a Lawful Covenant Married to her Husband, not be a Wife before there is added a testimony of due obedience?
But if you ask, what are the the effects of this cause? Who knows not that they are the Fruits of Pious Works, and this very imitation of Christ, which you so greatly (yea and so deservedly cry up and) extol? For who can rightly call himself a Christian, as you say very well, who doth not apply his mind as much as he can. to separate himself from all society of the Earthly Father, and frame and conform himself wholly to the example of the Heavenly: I grant this, to be very true, as indeed it is. For, I do not disallow of that which you do rightly assume, but I confute that, which you would falsly gather from hence. For thus you conclude; To wit, that the whole Magazine 1