A40370:483
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.
Upon which kind of Doctrine, if we only, or first of all Men should stand, I should less wonder at so great Tumults of these Men.
But seeing Christ himself, and Paul and the Prophets and Apostles profess themselves to be not only Witnesses, but also the Authors and ⟨p. 271⟩Leaders in this Opinion, whereby we are taught, that we are justified only by Faith in the Son; when every one of the most Learned Writers and Interpreters, who were of the Primitive Antiquity, attest the same with unanimous consent, from whose Instructions we our selves also have learned the same, what is come to those Popish Wits, why they should 1oppose themselves so unreasonably and so fiercely? And now let us consider what that is which so much offends them. Luther disputes that Faith is imputed unto Righteousness without Works. Paul the Apostle taught the same before Luther: What will Osorius say to me here? what will the Pope of Rome himself say? what will the Senators of Trent say? To wit, that good Works must be joined with it. What, must all good Works be joined with it, or not; if they shall say all, where will they find those that have completed this exact cyclopedy of Virtues in this Life, except the Son of God only? But if they understand it of most, or some good Works at least, yet that will not be sufficient. For unless every one of the Virtues joined together as it were in a mutual Bond, are united for Righteousness, they cannot profit at all being separate: Who ever loved his Neighbour as himself, according to the Prescript of the Law? But suppose there were some such Man: What 2if such a Man rages with Concupiscence of the Flesh or Eyes, though the inward mind doth not consent? ⟨p. 272⟩what if the mind swells with self-love, or overflows with the pride of Life? what if it is enslaved unto Covetousness, or some where fails in its duty? what advantage will it be to be observant of Charity? Briefly, what if it be so, that thou aboundest with all other virtues, but only failest in one command, doth not the Sentence of the Scripture condemn thee for the Violation of the Law? Moreover we may speak in the words of Thomas