A40370:404
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.
And now then this remains to be searched into; What it is that reconciles sinners to God, and restores them to his favour? and because this Reconciliation 1cannot be perfected by the Righteousness of our virtues; therefore we must confess that all the Office of reconciling consists in the Grace of God only, which the Papists themselves will not deny unto us, who agree with our Party in this, That Man is justified by Grace; for so we hear it testified expressly ⟨p. 214⟩by Osorius himself in these words: 2Therefore, saith he, They that give Heaven to the Merits of holy men, do not weaken the Grace of God, as some ignorant men say, but they celebrate the wonderful effect of his Grace with due praises; for we are such as judge all the Merits of the Saints should be referred to the Bounty and Grace of God; so that it should always be said; Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory, &c. I hear indeed very good words; if you had not already imposed upon us sufficiently with words, O Osorius! But he that will with judicious attention consider the matters themselves, and the Arguments, and the whole tenor of your discourse, will find it to be far otherways, that you do not at all intend what your words pretend, and that you drive at nothing more in all your endeavours, than to hide under the plausible title of grace so hidden an adversary of grace, (that I may speak with Augustin) together with the other Companions of your Society; who being all instructed in the same School, seem to make a Conspiracy about this one thing, as it were giving notice by a watch-word, viz. to overthrow all the efficacy of Evangelical Grace, to destroy the assurance of Faith, to overturn all: For what place is there for Grace, I beseech you, if Heaven is given not by the free gift of the bestower, but to the Merits of holy men, as you say? And what will you answer Paul the Apostle, who denies ⟨p. 215⟩that grace is any more grace, if men deal with God by Works? whence that may be brought not without just cause 3against you and yours, which Augustine of old brought in his contending with the Ancient Pelagians of his time. For thus you plead; That Heaven is justly and deservedly given to the Merits of holy men. On the contrary, Augustine being taught by Apostolic Authority, If it is given, saith he, to any Merits; it is not then given freely, but is rendered as due;