A40370:469
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.
Against the Tridentines.
It is Demonstrated by the Scriptures, that the grace of God whereby we are Justified, consists only in the free favour of God, and Remission of sins, not in the Merits of Works, or Infusion of Charity.
It is Demonstrated by the Scriptures, that the grace of God whereby we are Iustified, consists only in the free favour of God, and Remission of sins, not in the Merits of Works, or Infusion of Charity.
Thomas Aquinas, and they that follow him, according to the gloss which they call ordinary, do not deny that 1which the Apostle affirms, That we are saved by the Grace of God: But if you ask after what manner: they answer, that it comes to pass upon the account 2of good Works. For these are the words of the Gloss: Grace, says it, is called Eternal Life, because it is rendered to those Merits, which grace hath conferred. And to the same Sense are the Comments of Orbelius, Bonaventure, Halensis, and others, because, say they, without grace no Man can observe the Commands of God. And Thomas adds elsewhere, that to fulfil the Commands of the Law according to the due manner, Grace is necessarily requisite, to wit, to fulfil them with that Charity that ought to be, by which the fulfilling of them becomes Meritorious. Which Comment of theirs, we having formerly explained how false and frivolous it is, there is no need now of any new Arguments. ⟨p. 258⟩Verily the Christian Doctrine teaches us far otherways; for though we confess that which is reasonable: That the Divine Grace is never idle, but always stirs up the minds of the Regenerate to the best things; yet these Works are never of so great value, as to promote them unto Eternal Life, which is freely promised by God, not to them that Work, but to them that Believe; or if Salvation is premised to them that Work, it is not therefore promised because they Work: But they that truly believe, do therefore Work, because Salvation is promised.