A40370:741
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
Book 3 › Another Argument taken from the words of Christ, Matth. 25. › Answer.
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.
Therefore you say, Not Faith but Works do justify, which are the procuring cause either of Salvation or Destruction. But this is not the consequence of the Words of the Apostle, nor the sense of that Scripture. But, if we Reason according to the mind of the Holy Ghost in these places of Scripture, we must rather draw these consequences from them. Seeing such a Judgment is approaching, as will bring every one to render an account of their Lives, therefore no Man should flatter himself with hopes, that any of his offences either in words or deeds will go unpunished, but every Man should so frame his Life, that Faith and Holiness may be jointly united together, and not separated from one another.
Therefore you say, Not Faith but Works do justifie, which are the procuring cause either of Salvation or Destruction. But this is not the consequence of the Words of the Apostle, nor the sense of that Scripture. But, if we Reason according to the mind of the Holy Ghost in these places of Scripture, we must rather draw these consequences from them. Seeing such a Iudgment is approaching, as will bring every one to render an account of their Lives, therefore no Man should flatter himself with hopes, that any of his offences either in words or deeds will go unpunished, but every Man should so frame his Life, that Faith and Holiness may be jointly united together, and not separated from one another.
And this is a truth, which many now a days have need to be admonished of, not only Papists, but also Protestants, who make profession of the Name and Faith of Christ, but ⟨p. 395⟩yet notwithstanding, they so behave themselves as if they thought an-outside show of Religion were sufficient, and as if they did not look for Judgment to come, they are so void of care to walk worthy of that Holy profession, giving themselves up against their Conscience to all uncleanness with greediness, whereby they both greatly provoke the wrath of 1God, and put themselves in dreadful danger of the loss of Eternal Salvation. Against such Men as run on into open wickedness, without measure or remorse, we may by better consequence draw this inference.