A40370:936
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.
Unless the Hearts of these our Adversaries were fully set in them to pervert the ways of the Lord, it could not otherways be, but these clear and evident sayings of the Apostle must be sufficient to satisfy them, and prevail upon them to beware lest they kick against the Doctrine of the Apostles, and exalt themselves in their proud Imaginations, and vain Conceit of their own Righteousness, against such clear ⟨p. 467⟩Manifestation of Divine Grace. But here the Roman Legions make a fresh incursion again. and the Ring-leader of them is Andraeas Vega, who fights against the 1Righteousness of Faith: Whom there is no need of answering in this World: For he hath been removed out of this Life a great while since, that he might answer to God his Judge. And because he denied, that he was justified by the Faith of Christ only, let him look to it, what he must answer his Judge in that Judgment, wherein he must give account of his whole Life, where of necessity he must either overcome or fall. If he overcome, where is the Truth of Scripture, in which it is said, God only overcomes, when he is judged? But if he fall, where then is the Righteousness of Works? What if David, so great a King and Prophet could not endure that God should enter with him into Judgment. If Job, a Man of so Holy a Life, yet durst not answer to one of a thousand. What will our Vega say, what will he bring? his Cowls, his Fastings, his lyings on the Ground, his Night Watches, his Vows, his Liturgic-Prayers, his Propitiatory-Masses, his Mumbled over Confessions, his Penances and Satisfactions? But who hath required these things at your Hands? Nay, but 2he will defend himself, and take Sanctuary in the Law, which he hath fulfilled, not by the Strength of his own Free-will, but by the help of Divine Grace. Say you so? David, ⟨p. 468⟩being guarded with as much Grace, as any Man was, yet sunk down under the weight of the Law of God. I suppose Job wanted not Divine Grace, and yet he dares not appear before God in Judgment. 3And will Vega nevertheless hope to bring such an account of his Life before the Tribunal of God; that if God strictly Mark it, and weigh it in the balance of his Justice, he will not find more Sins than Merits therein?