A40370:916
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.
And yet in the mean while I deny not this to be true, which James writes: For he that being endued with no Virtue, or Love to Virtue, makes an outward profession of Faith in Christ, and leads not a Life suitable thereunto, I say, according to the Apostle James, that such a man's Faith is little worth. But if such a man in the last hour of his Life, come to himself, and fly to Christ for Refuge by an unfeigned Faith, and beg for Mercy, and cast himself wholly upon Christ, what would the Apostle James say in such a case, Will not Faith only without Works justify such a man as this? The penitent Malefactor is an evident proof of the truth of this, who had no other thing but Faith only, to commend him to Christ, and so to be admitted into Paradise: Like unto which there are many Examples daily of them that die on Gibbets; so that the Judgments of God are very wonderful, who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy.
And yet in the mean while I deny not this to be true, which Iames writes: For he that being endued with no Vertue, or Love to Vertue, makes an outward profession of Faith in Christ, and leads not a Life suitable thereunto, I say, according to the Apostle Iames, that such a man's Faith is little worth. But if such a man in the last hour of his Life, come to himself, and fly to Christ for Refuge by an unfeigned Faith, and beg for Mercy, and cast himself wholly upon Christ, what would the Apostle Iames say in such a case, Will not Faith only without Works justifie such a man as this? The penitent Malefactor is an evident proof of the truth of this, who had no other thing but Faith only, to commend him to Christ, and so to be admitted into Paradise: Like unto which there are many Examples daily of them that die on Gibbets; so that the Iudgments of God are very wonderful, who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy.
But now let us return to what we were saying of Abraham. If we look upon his Faith, what was more sincere? If we consider his Works, what was more glorious and wonderful? Therefore upon both accounts he was certainly an admirable man. Now let us compare his Faith with his Works. And because it is evident that he was justified before God, ⟨p. 455⟩