A40370:905
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.
Hitherto ye have heard the Apostle set forth the duties and offices of Charity, with deserved praise, ⟨p. 449⟩which, though they are exceeding great and magnificent, and cannot be sufficiently commended by any man according to their worth; yet such is the nature of all these offices of Charity, that they pass 1not beyond the bounds of this mortal Life, and the mutual Communion of Christians with one another.
- 1How great things Faith doth in Heaven.
But now let us raise up our minds, as high as we can, to contemplate the power and efficacy of Faith, and what it doth, not only upon the Earth, but in Heaven in the presence of God. Whilst Charity is exercised in this inferior World amongst men, Faith ascends into the Kingdom of God, where first by a sublime contemplation it lays hold on the Son of God the Mediator at the right hand of Majesty, takes a view of his Kingdom, and the glorious Riches thereof, and is ravished at the admiration of the universal Power that is given to him over all Heaven and Earth; and searches for the Promises of the Father, that are ratified in his Son the Mediator, and by search understands them, and in Heaven beholds them to be sure and infallible; wherewith the mind of a Believer being now confirmed, takes pleasure in them, and triumphs with great joy; and now Faith, by relying on these Promises, becomes fearless of danger, and invincible, and stands firmly against the fury of Satan, the power of Death, the terrors of a guilty Conscience, the Gates of Hell, the malice of the World, and the oppositions of the rebellious ⟨p. 450⟩flesh. Hence flows a gladsome tranquility of Conscience, and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost; and thence it is that Hope derives its fiducial Reliance, and Charity its fervent Zeal from Faith only.