A40370:647
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.
The Lord himself shows the cause thereof: For, what need have the whole of the Physician? Therefore as a skilful Physician, doth not Administer his Medicines, but when sickness requires it, so Faith cleanses none, but those, whom Repentance also amends, 1neither doth the Gospel heal any, but those whom first the Law hath slain, and Conscience hath wounded. And as that is most true, which we Preach by the Authority of Paul the Apostle, that Men are justified by Faith only without Works, so on the other side it is false, which the adversaries assert, that by this Doctrine of Faith it comes to pass, that all care of good Works is cast off, and the reins are let loose to all manner of wickedness: Howbeit if they speak of such impenitent persons as go on resolutely in their Sins, we acknowledge, that such as they, are not justified by Faith, and yet we assert that this is no way prejudicial to the cause that we plead. But if they speak of such, as join Repentance with Evangelical Faith, and therefore stand in need of consolation, if they deny that those are justified by the Faith of Christ only; they discover themselves to be utter Enemies of the Gospel, and adversaries to Christ. And again if they assert that such penitent believers become ⟨p. 369⟩worse by this Doctrine, they do therein err exceedingly, and lye abominably.
The Lord himself shews the cause thereof: For, what need have the whole of the Physician? Therefore as a skilful Physician, doth not Administer his Medicines, but when sickness requires it, so Faith cleanses none, but those, whom Repentance also amends, 1neither doth the Gospel heal any, but those whom first the Law hath slain, and Conscience hath wounded. And as that is most true, which we Preach by the Authority of Paul the Apostle, that Men are justified by Faith only without Works, so on the other side it is false, which the adversaries assert, that by this Doctrine of Faith it comes to pass, that all care of good Works is cast off, and the reins are let loose to all manner of wickedness: Howbeit if they speak of such impenitent persons as go on resolutely in their Sins, we acknowledge, that such as they, are not justified by Faith, and yet we assert that this is no way prejudicial to the cause that we plead. But if they speak of such, as join Repentance with Evangelical Faith, and therefore stand in need of consolation, if they deny that those are justified by the Faith of Christ only; they discover themselves to be utter Enemies of the Gospel, and adversaries to Christ. And again if they assert that such penitent believers become