A40370:680
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.
Con. Therefore, Remission of Sins is the cause of Justification.
Con. Theresore, Remission of Sins is the cause of Iustification.
But you may say, What must then be answered to the Words of Christ, who seems to promise the blessedness of the Kingdom as a reward of Works? You may find an answer to this objection in the Book of Jacobus Cartusiensis, who hath written 1on this manner. Men do accept and love the persons of others, for their Works that are acceptable, and profitable to them; but God accepts the Works for the sake of the person, &c. Therefore here there is need of a distinction between the Work, and the person of the Worker. But you may say: Are not Works that are performed in Charity, for the relief of the Poor, pleasing and acceptable to God? We deny not that our selves: But we enquire into the cause wherefore they become acceptable: Which that it may appear the more evidently, let us examine these words of Scripture; I was an hungered, said Christ, and ye gave me Meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me Drink, &c. I ask in the first place, who is it here, that was an hungered? You will say, Christ either himself in his own Body, or in a Member of his Body. Did you then feed Christ, when he was an hungered? That was Piously done indeed? Therefore I see and commend what you have done. But I ask, what was it that stirred you ⟨p. 379⟩up to do it? Whether was it Charity, setting Faith a work, or was it not rather Faith setting Charity a work? But what if some other that was no Member of Christ, whether Heathen or Turk had need of your Meat? Would you in your Charity have fed him? I doubt of that. But suppose you your self had not believed in Christ but had been an Enemy to him, if you had seen one that belonged to Christ almost ready to perish for hunger, would you have relieved him? I do not believe so. Why? Because it is only believers, that feed Christ, but Infidels persecute him. The Lord, was thirsty on the Cross, and he had Vinegar given him for drink; which was a Hellish wickedness. But why did they give him Vinegar? Was it want of Love, or was it not rather want of Faith in those unbelieving Pharisees? Who if they had not wanted Faith, they would not have wanted Charity, to administer help, and Charity, would not have been unrewarded. But let us