A40370:596
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.
And yet who among you so Administers his Office, that nothing is wanting to him, in the Catalogue of all these Virtues? In the management of which Office notwithstanding, if he do perform the chief things indifferently ⟨p. 339⟩well, he loses not the name of a good Bishop. Just so it is in the fulfilling of the commands of God, and the performing works of Righteousness. For, as Hierom asserts, to have all things, and to 1lack nothing that belongs to his Virtue, that did no Sin, neither was guile found in his Mouth.
And yet who among you so Administers his Office, that nothing is wanting to him, in the Catalogue of all these Vertues? In the management of which Office notwithstanding, if he do perform the chief things indifferently ⟨p. 339⟩well, he loses not the name of a good Bishop. Iust so it is in the fulfilling of the commands of God, and the performing works of Righteousness. For, as Hierom asserts, to have all things, and to 1lack nothing that belongs to his Vertue, that did no Sin, neither was guile found in his Mouth.
- 1Hierom. ad Ctesiphon. Dial. 1.
Now if you can never, or but very rarely find in the person of one Bishop the performance of a few Duties belonging to his Office, what should be said of those things, which being commanded by the Lord himself in the Gospel, belong alike unto all; as when he gives precepts of mutual Charity, of forgiving Brethren, of every Man's taking up his Cross, which if a Man refuse, Christ looks not upon him as a Disciple: Of Faith in God, which is not tainted with any wavering: Of Meekness and Humbleness of Mind, resembling the simplicity of little Children: Of Chastity which doth not allow so much as an unclean glance of the Eye: Of bounty towards all Men: Of perfect Patience towards our very Enemies, and the most exact Purity, which is void of Covetousness, and whose treasure is laid up in Heaven, which is not […] with any ambition or vain Glory, and designs it self wholly and all that it hath for the glory of Christ only.