A40370:501
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
Book 2 › Not every Faith Justifies.Book 2 › Not every Faith Iustifies.
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.
Why so? Because there is wanting to the definition, the Genus, Property, and difference, which distinguishes Faith from Hope. Also, there is wanting the true and proper object of Faith, which should by no means have been omitted; To wit, The person of him, in whom only all the promises of God, and the whole cause of our Justification is contained. Who unless 1he comes in, in vain other things are either believed or hoped for by us, neither will all that substance of things hoped for, avail us any whit unto Salvation. What then, you will say, Hath not the most gracious Father promised us his mercy? Hath he not engaged himself by an inviolable Covenant that he would pardon our Sins? Must we not give credit to those things, which are promised by God? He hath promised indeed, I confess, but how? Only in Christ his Son. To whom? Only to them that believe in the Son. I know and acknowledge that the promises of God are most sure, in which he promises as Osorius 2rehearses; Infinite Riches, excellent Pleasure, an immortal Kingdom, great Dignity, everlasting Glory. But yet these good things are neither ⟨p. 283⟩so promised or given by God, that in the mean while he exacts nothing of us for the obtaining of these good things which he promises. Therefore this is not the state of the question, whether we should believe God promising, which is common to us with the Jews themselves and Turks.
Why so? Because there is wanting to the definition, the Genus, Property, and difference, which distinguishes Faith from Hope. Also, there is wanting the true and proper object of Faith, which should by no means have been omitted; To wit, The person of him, in whom only all the promises of God, and the whole cause of our Iustification is contained. Who unless 1he comes in, in vain other things are either believed or hoped for by us, neither will all that substance of things hoped for, avail us any whit unto Salvation. What then, you will say, Hath not the most gracious Father promised us his mercy? Hath he not engaged himself by an inviolable Covenant that he would pardon our Sins? Must we not give credit to those things, which are promised by God? He hath promised indeed, I confess, but how? Only in Christ his Son. To whom? Only to them that believe in the Son. I know and acknowledge that the promises of God are most sure, in which he promises as Osorius