A40370:294
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 dare arrogate to himself, saith he, that which Paul himself confesses he had not attained unto? Indeed he that gave the command was not ignorant, that the weight thereof exceeded the strength of men; but he judged it useful, that by this very thing they should be convinced of their own insufficiency, and that they should know what end of 1Righteousness they should endeavour with all their might to attain unto. Therefore by commanding things impossible, he did not make men transgressors, but humble, that every mouth might be stopped, and all the World might lie under the Judgment of God.
Who dare arrogate to himself, saith he, that which Paul himself confesses he had not attained unto? Indeed he that gave the command was not ignorant, that the weight thereof exceeded the strength of men; but he judged it useful, that by this very thing they should be convinced of their own insufficiency, and that they should know what end of 1Righteousness they should endeavour with all their might to attain unto. Therefore by commanding things impossible, he did not make men transgressors, but humble, that every mouth might be stopped, and all the World might lie under the Iudgment of God.
- 1Why God commanded things impossible.
I can bring innumerable Testimonies of the like sort out of well approved Authors. But why do I take up my time in rehearsing the Names of Men, or reckoning their approbations? when, that I may speak it in one word, all the Antiquity of former Ages, the public consent of the former Church, and the choicest Writers out of all Eldest Time, as many as ever rejected the Ancient Pelagianism; all those with one mouth agree in this matter against you, That there is no integrity 1of Righteousness in this Life, which is not imperfect, which needs not forgiveness; That there is not so great an Innocency here, which