A40370:632
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.
What then, because they that know not how to use good things aright, take occasion to abuse the time of the Lord's Day to Gluttony and Drunkenness, and to open a door to Licentiousness, should we therefore reject the Lord's institution? No verily, Human things must give place to Divine, and the usual custom of Men of wicked Lives, must not be your rule to walk by, but that which God hath commanded to be done. Christ commands the Gospel to be Preached 1to every Creature: Will ye forbid it, though many abuse the Gospel? But what is this Gospel of Christ, that he commands to be Preached? He that believeth, and is Baptized, shall be saved. Do you hear that Salvation is simply promised to Believers; and that it consists of nothing else but Faith, and that Sacrament of Faith? Will you deny it? Whether then shall we believe Christ, or you? So it pleases him to open ⟨p. 359⟩unto sinners, the Treasures of his abundant grace. And will your envy shut up that from us, which he hath opened? do you neither enter your self, nor suffer others to enter? Christ also speaks thus by the Prophet, ye have been sold for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without price: What is the sense of these words, (without price) but this, without any Merits of Works at all, that is, your own Merits, but not 2the Merits of another. What then? If the procurement of another, hath brought you to death, may not also the procurement of another, restore you to life again? And in the same Prophet, the Holy Spirit proclaims how beautiful the feet of those are upon the Mountains, that bring good tidings, that publish peace: And yet do you endeavour to stop the comfortable course of Gospel Preaching and in the room thereof, do you obtrude your old erroneous Doctrine of mournful Sorrow, and heartless doubting.