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.

An answer to those that say the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Faith is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pretending that it opens a door to Irreligion, and Licentiousness.

BUT they pretend that this Do∣ctrine * 1.1 is pernicious, and con∣trary to a Pious Life, and good manners: For, (as they say) it en∣courages Men that are weak by nature, and prone to evil, to sin with the greater boldness. Canisius confirms this: Wheresoever, saith he, Iustification by Faith only is taught, it comes to pass, that usually in such places, Men sin without any fear or shame: And vain Men to encourage themselves in living profanely, flatter themselves with hopes to go unpunish∣ed, because they lay hold on Christ * 1.2 by Faith. And it is no wonder says Vega, for what should he be afraid of, yea, what should he not despise and make light of, who is once per∣swaded, that Faith only is sufficient for his Iustification: And that the Kingdom of Hea∣ven is not shut up from any sin or wickenness, if it were never so great?

Osorius adds his Vote to theirs: If Faith only is sufficient, and if every Action that * 1.3 we do, is unprofitable and defiled, it follows, that all who embrace this ima∣ginary Faith, do altogether neglect good

Works, &c. And elsewhere. Therefore you cannot by such Doctrine, exhort a Harlot to for∣sake her Lust, nor a Thief to refrain his covetous desire of other Mens Goods, nor a wicked Man to depart from his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but that he should 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this naked and empty Faith only, which is void of all works of Charity; for by such instructi∣ons, he will conceive a strong perswasion, that by this Faith only, he is very dear to God. Than which, what can be more absurd? * 1.4 Though I grant this to be true, that nothing can be more absurd, than if we say that Harlots, High∣waymen, and Outragious Cut-throats, who breaking the bonds of natural Modesty, give themselves up willfully to all impurity, are ac∣ceptable to God by Faith only. I say, suppose we grant this to be true, what follows from hence? Then Faith only (as you say) doth not justifie. O ingenious arguing, worthy of the Roman Mitres. It is true, that such as your Description sets forth to us, are not Iustified by Faith. But what a Connexion is this? there are many, who by the Preaching of free Iustification, are encouraged to a greater Licentiousness in sin∣ning. Therefore, that which is taught concer∣ning justifying Faith, is false. As * 1.5 if the Truth or Falshood of things depended on the using or abusing of them. What hath ever been so right or good, but evil Men have made it the occasion of Destruction to themselves, or o∣thers, by the abuse thereof. If this Argument were reasonable, the Sun might cease to shine,

because there are some that abuse his light, to commit the vilest Enormities: And health∣ful Herbs may cease to be planted * 1.6 in Gardens, because the venimous Spider sucks the worst poyson out of them. The Physician also may cease to Administer Medicines, be∣cause there are some found, who after they have recovered their Health, do sometimes commit such things, that it had been better, if they had still lain sick in Bed. Yea, on the Lord's days there are not a few, that through idleness, commit many sins. What then, because they that know not how to use good things aright, take occasion to abuse the time of the Lord's Day to Gluttony and Drunkenness, and to o∣pen a door to Licentiousness, should we there∣fore reject the Lord's institution? No verily, Human things must give place to Divine, and the usual custom of Men of wicked Lives, must not be your rule to walk by, but that which God hath commanded to be done. Christ commands the Gospel to be Preach∣ed * 1.7 to every Creature: Will ye forbid it, though many abuse the Gospel? But what is this Gospel of Christ, that he commands to be Preached? He that believeth, and is Baptized, shall be saved. Do you hear that Salvation is simply promised to Believers; and that it consists of nothing else but Faith, and that Sacrament of Faith? Will you deny it? Whether then shall we be∣lieve Christ, or you? So it pleases him to open

unto sinners, the Treasures of his abundant grace. And will your envy shut up that from us, which he hath opened? do you neither en∣ter your self, nor suffer others to enter? Christ also speaks thus by the Prophet, ye have been sold for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without price: What is the sense of these words, (without price) but this, with∣out any Merits of Works at all, that is, your own Merits, but not * 1.8 the Merits of another. What then? If the procurement of another, hath brought you to death, may not also the procurement of another, restore you to life again? And in the same Prophet, the Holy Spirit proclaims how beautiful the feet of those are upon the Moun∣tains, that bring good tidings, that publish peace: And yet do you endeavour to stop the comfortable course of Gospel Preaching and in the room thereof, do you obtrude your old erro∣neous Doctrine of mournful Sorrow, and heart∣less doubting.

You will say, Why not? For it will be better for Men to be kept in fear, for who will be anxi∣ous about the Fruits of Repentance, * 1.9 or his progress in grace, if every Man be sure of his own Iustification, and of the favour of God? And there∣fore Masters and Fathers conceal their love towards their Sons and Servants, that by this uncertainty, they may be the more obliged to their Duty: And it must be believed, that God deals just so with his Creatures, &c. Thus said Hosius. Where then is that peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, if

no Man must be assured of the favour of God? Where are those feet of them, that run up∣on the Mountains, and bring glad tidings of Peace, if it is not lawful to publish the Righ∣teousness of Peace? We are not against the Preaching of Faith, (say they) but we would not that Faith only should be Preach∣ed. That is the only thing that * 1.10 we require, for the cause that we mention'd, because when this form of Doctrine is taught, of necessity the conse∣quence thereof is the Ruin and Destruction of all (honest Discipline.)

That I may answer this Objecti∣on, though it hath been sufficient∣ly * 1.11 answered already, two things must be considered, one whereof belongs to the manner of Preach∣ing, and the other to the truth of the Doctrine. And first as touching Preaching, their Objection is very false: For though we teach that Faith only Iustifies, yet we neglect not to use strong mo∣tives to the practice of good Works, and sharp Admonitions, and not only Admoniti∣ons, but also severe threatnings, yea, and moreover Excommunications, if need be, to restrain wicked practices.

The frequent Sermons that are Preached in our Churches bear witness to this, in which according to our power, we exhort unto Works of Piety, and by the Authority of Scripture, thunder the Iudgments of God, against Har∣lots, Adulterers, Covetous Persons, Highway∣men,

Sorcerers, that they may know there will be no place for such in the Kingdom of God and Christ, except they amend their lives. Who was more zealous than Paul, in exalting the Righteousness of Faith? And who was more Holy in Life than he, or more fervent against the sins of those that walked not af∣ter the Spirit, but after the flesh? The Books of our Divines do evidence the same, in which they discourse no less of Repentance, and good Works, than of Faith, joyning always the one with the other. Therefore as touch∣ing the manner of Teaching, you will find, that it is not Faith only, which is Treated of in the Churches and Books of Men of our perswasion. But if the matter of debate be∣tween us, be about the cause of Salvation and Iustification, there is nothing more agreeable to sound Doctrine, than that an ungodly sin∣ner is Iustified before God by Faith only with∣out Works.

But you may object; this Doctrine * 1.12 hardens the People in their sinful courses. If you understand it of all, it is false: If of evil doers, that run on in sin against their Conscience, and take no care to restrain their Lusts: As for such, who ever said or taught, that they are Iustified by Faith only? And yet never∣theless the Truth of this Assertion remains invincible, whereby we affirm that a wicked Man is Iustified by Faith only, without Works, if the Scope and meaning thereof be well understood. Which will be easie, if by ad∣ding

that, which supplies the room of a pre∣dicate, the proposition be made entire. As when Faith only is said to Iustifie, add unto the Subject of this Enunciation, its own pro∣per predicate, or I may rather say, add the proper Subject of Iustification, and understand aright, who they are, whom Faith only Iusti∣fies without Works, according to the saying of Paul: For herein chiefly lies the (difficulty) of this Controversie, * 1.13 Neither is there any thing wherein the Adversaries are more grosly mistaken: And herein they follow the Foot-steps of those, concerning whom Cyprian justly complains, saying, They look at that, which is said in the first place, but regard not, what follows after. They catch at that which we assert of Faith only Exclusively, and think there is in∣jury done to good Works, if Faith on∣ly is sufficient to Salvation: But they take no notice what manner of Persons they are, to whom this Iustification by Faith belongs. It is the Advice of those School Divines, to consider the reasons of things proposed, ac∣cording to their Subject matter, and why then do they not observe their own Rule in this Evangelical Assertion? Christ affirms it, Paul confirms it, yea, the common practice of life, natural Reason, and Experience, and the Conscience of all good Men proclaim that Ruine comes only from our Works, and Salvation only from Christ. And because we receive this only Mediatour Christ by Faith

only, hence it is that we assert it is Faith that justifies believing sinners before God. But let us see what manner of Sinners they are, whom Faith Iustifies: Is it the Rebellious, and Impenitent? No verily. Then it must be such sinners, as are Converted, and Humbled, and have the fear of God before their Eyes. But there is no fear, that such will continue to wallow in their former filthiness, but on the contrary, they are hereby so much the more stirred up to amend their lives. All Ages have abounded with Examples of those, to whom the Doctrine of free Iustification by Faith in Christ, as it conduced much to their necessary consolation, so it was no hinderance to their leading an holy life. If Charity (ac∣cording as the Adversaries themselves do te∣stifie) is the perfection of the Law, which is the Rule of Life; I would ask such men, whether he to whom more, or he to whom fewer sins are forgiven, hath the strongest ob∣ligation to love either God or his Neigh∣bour? which of these two mentioned in the Gospel, loved Christ with the greater ardency of affection, Simon the Pharisee, or * 1.14 Mary, that brought with her no good works at all, but a great mul∣titude of sins? And why was her Love to the Lord more vehement? but be∣cause she had more sins forgiven her? But let us proceed; Wherefore were so many and so great offences forgiven her, but for her Faith, which guided her Love? for she did not there∣fore believe in Christ, because she loved him, but because she knew him to be the Son of

God, her Faith being thereby incited to act the more vigorously, she loved much. For, Love proceeds from Faith, and not Faith from Love. Because we be∣lieve * 1.15 therefore we Love, but we do not believe, because we Love-Whence the Lord, regarding more her Faith then her Love, said unto her, thy Faith (not thy Love) hath saved thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hosius in confut. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 140. Canis. in prae∣fatione in Andrad. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Andrad. Vega de justificat. in Epist.
• * 1.3

  Osor. de just. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. Osor. ibid. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2.
• * 1.4

  An Answer to the Ob∣jections.
• * 1.5

  The conse∣quence is de∣nied.
• * 1.6

  The abuse of good things should be ta∣ken away, but the things themselves, should be continued.
• * 1.7

  Mark 16.
• * 1.8

  Esa. 52.
• * 1.9

  Hosius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lib. 3. pag. 140. Against the assurance of Christian Salvation.
• * 1.10

  Objection. Faith only.
• * 1.11

  Answer. In Sermons frequent Ex∣hortations are used to Pious Works.
• * 1.12

  An Answer to this Ob∣jection.
• * 1.13

  Ambiguity. Faith only Iustifies, but not all kind of Sinners.
• * 1.14

  The Love of Mary Magda∣line.
• * 1.15

  Love rises from Faith, not Faith from Love.