A40370:489
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.
Therefore in this so great diversity of things to be believed, we must see what that Faith is, whereof all our Salvation and Righteousness before God consists, and what is the proper and simple definition thereof; whence it receives ⟨p. 274⟩its power to justify, to whom it belongs, and in what Notions it differs from that Faith which our Adversaries hold. Which state of Faith, if it had been rightly and definitively seen into by our Divines, I am either deceived, or else those boasting admirers of Works would wholly 1change that Opinion, or at least moderate themselves more in this matter of disputation. But now I know not how it comes to pass, that whereas no kind of Doctrine either more admirable for dignity, or more excellent for use, or more happy for the Salvation of Men hath shined forth, or that moreover appears more perspicuously to the Eyes of all Men by manifest Testimonies of Evangelical Scripture, yet there is no opinion that hath more numerous, or more bitter Adversaries: Which whence it comes to pass, I can not be satisfied in wondering, unless that whereof I spake, be the cause thereof, because they seem not to have discerned aright by the Gospel, what that Faith is to which free Justification is proposed: Which may appear evidently by many Arguments, and such as are not at all obscure unto him that reads- their Writings, Collections, Articles, Councils, and Disputes: And in this very Rank Osorius comes first, and next Hosius, one of his nearest 2Allies; who opposing the Faith of Luther, doth not so much confute that, as betray his own ignorance. For ⟨p. 275⟩what ignorance is this? What kind of intemperance? that drawing your pen against your Adversary, whom you cannot run down by true Reasons, you carp at things not understood, and you wound the Innocent with false Accusations? where I beseech you, 3did Luther either Teach or Dream of this Faith, which you feign he holds: To wit, that every one obtains Righteousness, or is justified upon that account only, because he determines himself acceptable to God; for these are your words, and not yours only: For Hosius also harps no less upon the same string, together with you, and the whole hundreds of almost all the Divines of that Class.