A40370:453
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.
For the sufferings of this time are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed in us: But because it so seemed good to the Clemency of God, to esteem those Merits of ours which are none, as if they were Merits indeed, and to Crown them, as if they were very great, which deserve no grace at all. For who hath ⟨p. 247⟩thanked a Servant, as the Gospel Witnesses for the Service, which he owed to his Master after he did his Commands? And would not rather have punished him if he had not done them? But if he find any praise or reward beyond his Merit, he hath cause to give thanks to his Master, but not to boast of 1his own Merits. Therefore Augustin admonishes rightly and understandingly: If you would be a stranger to grace, saith he, boast of your Merit. And verily Bernard was not wholly without sight, though he saw not all things, when he said it was sufficient for Merit, to know that Merits are not sufficient.
For the sufferings of this time are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed in us: But because it so seemed good to the Clemency of God, to esteem those Merits of ours which are none, as if they were Merits indeed, and to Crown them, as if they were very great, which deserve no grace at all. For who hath ⟨p. 247⟩thanked a Servant, as the Gospel Witnesses for the Service, which he owed to his Master after he did his Commands? And would not rather have punished him if he had not done them? But if he find any praise or reward beyond his Merit, he hath cause to give thanks to his Master, but not to boast of 1his own Merits. Therefore Augustin admonishes rightly and understandingly: If you would be a stranger to grace, saith he, boast of your Merit. And verily Bernard was not wholy without sight, though he saw not all things, when he said it was sufficient for Merit, to know that Merits are not sufficient.
- 1August. praefatione in Psal 31.