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.

A Question.

Whether only relyance on Mercy justifies of it self?

Verily as for my part I am not, nor ever was the man that would be, prejudicial to another man's Opinion: I allow that every man should be persuaded in his own mind; I hinder it not. But if I am permitted freely to profess in a free Church, what my Opinion is, my reason leads me to think that this relyance on Mercy, and assurance of Salva∣tion promised, must be a thing very nearly joyned with Faith, and which every man ought to apply to himself; but then when it is most applied, it is not that which properly and ab∣solutely unloads us of our sins, and justifies us before God; but that there is some other thing proposed in Gospel, which by Nature should in some respect go before this assurance, and justifie us in the sight of God. For Faith in the person of the Son, which reconciles us to God, doth necessarily go before. And then relyance on most assured Mercy follows this Faith, con∣cerning which none of those that believe in Christ can doubt.

Objection. But you may say, What, doth not Mercy promised in Christ go before the voca∣tion of Faith? doth not the same Mercy freely justifie Believers? Moreover seeing the Pro∣mises

of God are most sure, may not the same be safely and constantly trusted in?

That I may answer these men: Indeed the Mercy of God moves first; no man doubts of that, which is the cause and original of all good things. But it is not that which is matter of Contro∣versie in this place, Whether Mer∣cy on God's part is the Mother of our Iustification; but what that is on our part, which hath power with God for our Reconciliation; whether relyance on Mercy, or Faith in the Person of the Son. I know that the Mercy of God is immense and infinite, in which is comprehended all the Election of the Saints. Neither am I ignorant that those things are most sure, which are proposed to be be∣lieved in the Articles of the Creed; than which, as nothing is more sure, so neither is there any thing, which any man ought to doubt of about the assurance of those things, which are promised, or concerning the faithfulness of the Promiser. For what is more sure than the Promises of God? what more stable than the faithfulness of the Promiser? what more free than Mercy freely proposed in Christ? Wherefore the rather, this unsavoury and no less reproachful barking of Hosius, Andradius, and such like men, should be hissed away out of the Society of Christians; who kicking against the

pricks; bring all things into doubt and uncertainty, with the Acade∣micks, and they look upon it as a thing unsufferable, for a man to take upon him to rely upon the promise of Salvation; which they of Trent condemn with an Anathema, Hosius detests it as vain and unprofitable arguing, as if this assurance of Di∣vine Grace did nothing but open to the Con∣sciences of men a door to a certain slothful la∣ziness and dissolute life: Therefore, saith he, as prudent Fathers and Masters sometimes do, they hide their Love towards their Children and Servants, that they might keep them the more in fear and in their duty: So God doth also towards his Servants, that being kept wa∣vering between hope and fear, he may by that means the more easily drive them from security and negligence, &c.

Notes

• Assurance of Salvation is necessatily joyned with Faith.
• An Answer to the ob∣jection.
• Mercy the first cause of our Iustifica∣tion on God's part.
• On our part are consider∣ed relyance on the Mercy promised, and Faith in the Person of the Mediatour.
• The Opinion of the Papists concerning the uncer∣tainty of our Salvation in Christ ex∣ploded. Hosius lib. 3. confut. p. 140.