A40370:852
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. › 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.
Answer.
Both are true indeed, if you consider things in respect of the just rewards due unto them. For as the vile Abominations of an Ungodly Life procure the Wrath and Vengeance of God, so Works of Righteousness would procure his favour, if we could perform good things with as great perfection as we do Evil things. But because we cannot do that, therefore of our selves, we can deserve nothing according to the rules of Justice, but only Death and Damnation. But now by the right of Redemption through Christ, we are set free from the Law of Justice, and translated into the Kingdom of Grace; by Virtue of a new Covenant, whereby it comes to pass, that God hath respect not to our Merits, but only to Christ, the price of our Redemption.
Both are true indeed, if you consider things in respect of the just rewards due unto them. For as the vile Abominations of an Ungodly Life procure the Wrath and Vengeance of God, so Works of Righteousness would procure his favour, if we could perform good things with as great perfection as we do Evil things. But because we cannot do that, therefore of our selves, we can deserve nothing according to the rules of Iustice, but only Death and Damnation. But now by the right of Redemption through Christ, we are set free from the Law of Iustice, and translated into the Kingdom of Grace; by Vertue of a new Covenant, whereby it comes to pass, that God hath respect not to our Merits, but only to Christ, the price of our Redemption.
Therefore I answer, That this opposition of contraries is of force according to the strict severity ⟨p. 439⟩of the Law, but not according to the Grace of the Gospel, for here there is a block put in the way; To wit, The Blood of the Redeemer, that frees us from the Law of Sin and Death.