A40370:375
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.
The Assertion of Luther against Osorius concerning the Sins of the Saints, is defended.
I Come now to Luther, whom you reproach after such an unworthy manner, and with such shameful slanders, yea and lies so tragically. Why so? to wit, because he durst accuse the Saints themselves of sin; which seems to you so execrable a wickedness, 1as if no greater reproach could be cast, not only on holy men themselves, but also on the Author and Prince of all Holiness.
I Come now to Luther, whom you reproach after such an unworthy manner, and with such shameful slanders, yea and lyes so tragically. Why so? to wit, because he durst accuse the Saints themselves of sin; which seems to you so execrable a wickedness, 1as if no greater reproach could be cast, not only on holy men themselves, but also on the Author and Prince of all Holiness.
- 1August. of true and false Repeniance, c. 5. Why did the Lord wash the seet of Peter, but because there was a daily sinning, it behoved that there should be a daily remission, &c. Cyprian. But if no man can be without sin, whosoever saith that he is unblameable, is either proud or a fool. Hier. contra Pelag. Dial. 1. But to be perpetually without sin is only in the power of God: Therefore either give an example of one that was always without sin; or if you cannot confess your weakness, and do not set your mouth against Heaven to deceive the Ears of fools, by that which really is, and that which can be.
You may upon the same account cast reproaches in like manner upon Hierom, Augustin, and Bernard, and other most approved Writers of the Primitive Times: Whom you must either by necessary consequence absolve with Luther, or not condemn Luther without them: Seeing there is none of all these, that thought this Title of Honour should be attributed to any man, but Christ only, that he should be wholly