A40370:36
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
Book 1: OF Free Justification by Christ.Book 1: OF Free Iustification by Christ.
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.
OF Free Justification by Christ.
OF Free Iustification by Christ.
In Reading your Books, Hierom Osorius, concerning Righteousness, though I had not leisure accurately to trace every particular, on which you have enlarged, yet by what I have here and there collected, I think I do well enough perceive whereat you drive, what you design, and what you endeavour: For, according to my apprehension, you are endeavouring, not to strike at some part of Christian Doctrine of smaller concernment, but to cut the very Throat, and extinguish the Breath and Spirit of the Gospel, and to besiege the whole state of our Felicity, and the Castle and chief City of Christian Liberty, and to pluck up from the very Foundation all the Munitions of 1Peace and Life: For what other thing dost thou in all these ten Books, whereby thou snatchest away out of the Hands, Studies, Minds and Consciences of Men, and out of the Earth. as the Sun out of the World, that most glorious Light of our Free Justification, purchased by the great bounty of Christ, and confirmed by the Eternal ⟨p. 2⟩Covenant of God: Which being taken away, I see not what thou leavest remaining to us, but Cimmerian and Osorian Darkness, in which we may grope like blind Moles: Which endeavours of thine, though of themselves being vain and frivolous, there is no great cause, why they should be feared in their opposition against the invincible force of Divine Truth; yet because they strive to with-hold from us that which is most excellent in all Religion; therefore I thought it was necessary to write these things unto thee, not being provoked by any Enmity or Hatred against thy Person, that I might vex thee, but that I might admonish thee both friendly and freely; and so much the more freely, in how much greater danger I see thou art entangled, unless thou return back, and endeavour to walk more uprightly according to the Gospel of Christ. For what think you, Sir? That by your deeds performed as well as can be imagined, and by the steps of your virtues, you can lay for your self a passage into the Kingdom of God?