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.

Concerning the Formal cause of Iustifi∣cation.

AND that is no less false, which they most vainly dream concerning a formal cause; which is easily confuted after this manner. First, that we may grant this, that Cha∣rity should be reckoned amongst * 1.1 the chiefest gifts of God, which being so often praised by the Apo∣stle, cannot be praised enough by any Man, yet never was there given to any Man in this life so great an excellency therein, that he should fulfill all the Righteousness of the Law. Whence because charity of life, as they call it, is imperfect, (for we love in part ac∣cording to theMagisterial Sentence,) that can neither be called Righte∣ousness, * 1.2 nor be the form of Faith. Unto this there is added another reason, because when it is given most largely, yet Charity is never given for this end, that it may justi∣fie us in the sight of God, nor that it may inform faith, but rather that it self may be informed by faith, and may be subservient to faith, for Works of Charity are fruits of faith, not the cause of faith, they follow, but do not go be∣fore faith.

For Magdalen did not therefore believe in

Christ, because she loved Christ, but because she believed in Christ; therefore she loved much. Now if that be called the formal cause by Philosophers, which furnishes mat∣ter with Life and Soul, and if Divines account this the life, whereby we live to God, what then will they say to the Prophetical Scripture, whereby the Iust is said to live not by Charity, but by faith? What also will they answer to the Words of Christ, in which he teaches that life Eternal consists in this, that we should know the Father the true God, and Iesus Christ, whom he hath sent?

And again, where in very evident Speech, he Attributes life to faith only, and not to Charity. He that believeth in the Son, faith he, hath Eternal Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Charity is in part as the Saints often teach.
• * 1.2

  Sentent. lib. 3. dist. 31. Charity does not go before Faith, but follows after it, neither doth it form Faith, but it is informed by Faith.