A40370:400
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 › Concerning the Grace of God, how it is defined by Osorius, with a c… › Argument.
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 then, say you, doth not Justice make Men that live holily and justly in this World acceptable to God? Which if it is so, 1it cannot be judged to be any other thing but Grace. For whatsoever renders us acceptable to God, is justly esteemed to be Grace. Justice makes us acceptable to God, therefore it is Grace. As touching the minor, I deny not that Justice, as it is very acceptable to God, so it renders acceptable to God, if it is perfect and agreeable to the Divine perfection; which not being given to us in this Life, another altar must be sought, there is need of other helps. Therefore if we would find any favour in the sight of God, we must betake our selves to Christ, and embrace him by Faith. Though I am not Ignorant what this good Disputant drives at, and what Masters he follows, and on what foundation he builds. For he builds upon that 2old and stale distinction of the Schoolmen, as much used, as it is light and frivolous, and vain: They according to their subtlety divide the manifold efficacy of grace, most of them into two parts, and some of them into three or more. To wit, into grace freely given, and that which makes acceptable. And again they subdivide this latter, as it were by an Anatomical Dissection into more Veins, into Operative grace, which again they divide into three Rivulets, Preventing, Beginning, ⟨p. 210⟩delivering, and afterwards into cooperating, which likewise is threefold: Following, promoting, assisting.
What then, say you, doth not Iustice make Men that live holily and justly in this World acceptable to God? Which if it is so, 1it cannot be judged to be any other thing but Grace. For whatsoever renders us acceptable to God, is justly esteemed to be Grace. Iustice makes us acceptable to God, therefore it is Grace. As touching the minor, I deny not that Iustice, as it is very acceptable to God, so it renders acceptable to God, if it is perfect and agreeable to the Divine perfection; which not being given to us in this Life, another altar must be sought, there is need of other helps. Therefore if we would find any favour in the sight of God, we must betake our selves to Christ, and embrace him by Faith. Though I am not Ignorant what this good Disputant drives at, and what Masters he follows, and on what foundation he builds. For he builds upon that