A40370:591
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.
But you may say, what then? Doth Christ the Bride-groom forsake his Bride? Or is his grace lessened, that he is unwilling or unable to help his Servants? What think you of Charity? Which being the fulfilling of the Law, according to the Testimony of the Apostle, will it do nothing in the Hearts of those, in whom it is shed abroad, towards the fulfilling of the Law of God? I hear your Objection, and thus I answer it: Christ neither doth, nor will forsake his Church. Yet notwithstanding, he is not so present with his Church at all times; but that he leaves some Frailties and Imperfections in her. And the Bride doth not so fully enjoy 1her Bridegroom, but that she hath sometimes occasion to complain, as it is in the Song of Solomon. I sought him whom my Soul loveth, I sought him, but I found him not, the Watchmen of the City found me, &c.
- 1Cant. 3. Grace, Charity.
But as touching Charity, and an habitual gift of grace, about which Thomas reasoned so largely, we also detract nothing from it, as we have said before. But this grace hath ⟨p. 336⟩its own degrees and measures, and 1bounds wherein it is contained. For Charity is not given to justify any Man by Working, neither is so great a power of Divine grace, communicated to any Man in this life, as to fulfil all Christian Righteousness in every iota and Title. Though it be certain, that the bounty of God beautifies the Church with many and great Ornaments, yet he doth not cause her to arrive at so great perfection in this World, but she always hath need of the mercy of God, and the Remission of sins. Indeed he preserves his Saints, and enriches and ennobles them, that they never perish, but not so, that they never sin. This fullness of grace, the Father hestowed on his own Son, by a singular prerogative of his Will, that all might receive of his fullness, for God gives not the Spirit to him measure; but he hath not dealt so with others, but he hath given to every Man according to the measure of the Rule, whereby he distributes to us, lest we should glory without measure, or stretch our selves too far above that