A77832:250
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and…
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemy to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Borough to the queries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his queries, given in simplicity of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borrough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemie to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Burrough to the quæries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his quæries, given in simplicitie of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...
London: printed by Matthias Cowley, 1657
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.
Answ. That faith that hath not works is dead, being alone. Yet it doth not follow, that all that have works, have faith. No; but contrariwise, men may have works, yea, the works of the Law of God too, and yet be under the curse; which they could not be if they had saving faith. So then, if faith without works is dead;1 and again, if men may have works, and yet no faith, no saving faith, I mean. Then it will be good to enquire, what it is to have a right faith, which doth bring forth right good works; and who have works without a right faith.
Answ. That faith that hath not works is dead, being alone. Yet it doth not follow, that all that have works, have faith. No; but contrariwise, men may have works, yea, the works of the Law of God too, and yet be under the curse; which they could not bee if they had saving faith. So then, if faith without works is dead;1 and again, if men may have works, and yet no faith, no saving faith, I mean. Then it will be good to enquire, what it is to have a right faith, which doth bring forth right good works; and who have works without a right faith.
And first, a right saving faith, is, for a man to be enabled of God's holy Spirit, to lay hold on what the man Christ hath done in his own person, when he was in the world; as his birth, righteousness, death, blood, resurrection, ascension and intercession; and to apply the virtue and merit thereof to himself, so as to see himself saved thereby, Rom. 3.24, 25. Being justified freely by his grace: How? Even through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, or reconciler, through faith in his blood, &c. Again, Be it known unto you, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe: mark, all that believe (namely, in his blood which was shed on mouth Calvary) are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses.