A40370:439
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.
But because there are two things chiefly in which the whole sum both of our Salvation and Religion is contained, Grace, and Faith, of which the one belongs to God towards men, the other agrees to men towards God: It very much concerns Christians, that their Minds be very well instructed in both. And Grace indeed is discerned in those good things that are given to us, and promised by God. Faith is exercised in those Offices, which are chiefly due from us to God, and are greatly requisite. Therefore that we may rightly apprehend the nature of Grace, we must see what and how great those gifts are, which the bounty of God hath partly bestowed upon us, and partly promised: Concerning which thing it remains that we should examine what the Scribblers of Popish Divinity do hold. Now what they teach about this matter, is for the most part to this purpose. They place the end of humane Life in blessedness, and the School-Divines dispute about this very blessedness 1just after such a manner as the Philosophers of old did of their chiefest good; unto which every man, must endeavour according to his power, to attain by industry and ⟨p. 236⟩diligent labours, and the merits of the greatest Virtues. And when the former Pelagians affirmed that we could do 2that by the strength of Nature, there were not wanting others at the same time, who valiantly opposing the help of the Grace of 3God to Free-will, successfully rejected and exploded this wicked Opinion by the Scriptures. After this came another kind of Divines, who having followed Augustine, 4disputed thus against the Pelagians, that we cannot so much as will good by Free-will without Grace, or merit Eternal Life by any means without Grace. And that is true indeed. But that those same men joining Grace again, deny not that we can merit Life by Works, and that ex condigno according to their worth; I do not see what difference is between these and the Pelagians in that; except that in the manner of working they somewhat differ; for those work without grace, these no otherways but by grace; but both do equally 5