A40370:930
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
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.
Yea, they themselves deny not that the exclusive Word is understood of the Works of the Law, though not of the Works of Grace, but now what are these Works of Grace? those (forsooth) which the influence of the Grace of Christ, performs in the Souls of the regenerate; but were not the Romans to whom the Apostle wrote, regenerate in Christ? Were they not partakers of the same ⟨p. 463⟩Grace? Did they not abound in the Works of Grace? Whom yet the Apostle denies to be justified by their own Works. It is true indeed (say they) if you understand it of their own Works, which are called Works of the Law, but not those Works which are Christ's. How ridiculous is this! as if those things that are planted 1[…] us by the Spirit of Christ, were not also oftentimes called ours. Yea Faith it self, which is most especially reckoned amongst those Gifts, it is usual to Scripture to give it the Epithet of ours and yours. Paul expresses himself thus, [By the Communion of my Faith and yours] and again [Hearing of your Faith] and in another place [Your Faith which is in Christ, &c.] Is it not evident that he speaks of that Faith, which we have in Christ through the free gift of God? How much more then may this be understood of Works, which when Paul excludes from Justification, it cannot be doubted, but he understands it not only of Works, that are ours wholly, 2and done by our own Strength, but also of those Works that are done by the help of Grace operating in us; so that there is nothing in the Works either of the Law, or of Grace, except Faith only, but what rather contributes to Destruction than Justification: (What is commanded in the Law of God, that we can do without Grace?) Therefore seeing Paul removes all Works from the Office of justifying, it must needs be, that he understands it of the ⟨p. 464⟩Works of Grace, as well as of our own Works, or the Works of the Law: What shall we say of the Works of Christ, were not they Works of the Law: For he himself hath said, that he came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it; were not the things which he performed in fulfilling the Law, Works of Grace? What difference then is there between those Works, that are called Works of the Law, and those other that are called Works of Grace? So that it appears, that he who excludes the Works of the Law, excludes also the Works of Grace from Justification.