A40370:781
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 › An Explication of the Parable of the Wedding Garment.
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.
It remains that we should view the Guests themselves, and also the garments of the guests, whom he invites to this Marriage banquet, and not only invites, 1but compels them to come in. Call the Poor, saith he, and the Lame, and the Blind, and compel them to come in, that my House may be filled? Who are these Poor, and Blind, 2and Feeble, and Naked, but such as have no provision of their own Works? Who have nothing in themselves, whereof to Glory, but only in the Lord. Such as were the Publicans of Old, and Sinners of the Gentiles, and Pagans, concerning whom Paul Discourses in words of great weight.
- 1Luk. 14.
- 2Who are the Blind, and the Lame, that are invited to the Marriage.
The Gentiles that followed not after Righteousness, laid hold on Righteousness, that is, the Righteousness that is of Faith. But contraryways, Israel that followed after the Righteousness of the Law, attained not thereunto: Wherefore? Because 1they sought it not by Faith, but as it were by the Works of the Law. How great stupidity then and abominable impudence is this in vain glorious Men, who being by ⟨p. 412⟩Nature wretched, and Blind, and Naked, and most miserable Beggars, notwithstanding all this, are exalted to the highest dignity of union with God, and 2that not for any merit of their own, but the free donation of Christ, that yet they neither acknowledge their own nakedness, nor testify their thankfulness to God for the Riches of his Grace, but think themselves abundantly beautified with their own ornaments, and sufficiently furnished with merits to attain unto Righteousness: But what a Righteousness is this of theirs? If it be the Righteousness of Works? Who then are those poor and needy, that are admitted to the Marriage? They that are adorned with the beauty and glory of Merits, and abound with Riches of good Works, How can we account such to be poor, and blind, and lame? And if they are said to be compelled to come in, where is the free will of the Tridentines? Or its co-operation? But on the contrary if by the poor here be understood such as have no good works that can commend them, nor any help of free will, that are decked with no ornaments, but are admitted, or rather drawn to the Marriage feast by the grace of Christ only, How then can Charity abounding