A40370:982
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.
An Answer to the Adversaries, wherein their Frivolous Exceptions, and Sophistical Subtleties are confuted.
An Answer to the Adversaries, wherein their Frivolous Exceptions, and Sophistical Subtilties are confuted.
BUT these Sophistical Distinctions which they make use of, as antidotes in difficult cases, are so absurd and unreasonable, that there is not any Poison more deadly and injurious to the Doctrine of Salvation.
And I greatly wonder at the power and efficacy of Error, that so stupefies their understanding, that in the light of Noon-day they can be so blind, and err so perniciously, and betray their own Ignorance so shamelessly. It is a Rule of Lawyers; (as I formerly have said) 1Where the Law distinguishes not, we ought not to distinguish. What need then is there in a thing so evident, of so many by-ways of distinctions, and Labyrinths ⟨p. 483⟩of perplexities? for Paul hath spoken expressly, and given many weighty Arguments, whereby he makes it very clear, that it is the Grace of God only, to which we are indebted for all our Justification. But those men are of another mind, saying, That this Grace consists not in the favour of God only, whereby he receives sinners for the sake of Christ, but also in Moral Virtues and Charity, whereby the Law is fulfilled. Tho' I deny not that the excellent gifts of honest actions are bestowed upon us by the Grace of God: Yet our Justification before God depends not upon this grace of working: Therefore we do not utterly reject the distinction that they bring of pardoning and renewing grace, if they keep them duly within their own bounds. But that which they conclude from hence, we altogether disapprove. I know and confess it is the Grace of God, which both sanctifies and justifies; which both pardons & renews: For we are daily renewed unto new obedience by the influence of Divine Grace. But though this be so, we are not renewed for this purpose, that by this newness of obedience we may be justified: But before Renovation we are first justified by Faith in the Son of God; all the sins of our former life being blotted out for the sake of Christ in whom we believe: Unto which Justification succeeds the renovation of imperfect Obedience, but not such as justifies a man from his sins in the sight of God: for