Also, during a part of the time he was engaged in superintending the early Latin edition of his Acts and Monuments. To conclude — Fox was a most valuable artificer in the great work of the English Reformation.
SERMON OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED,
PREACHED AT PAUL’S CROSS, THE FRIDAY BEFORE EASTER,
JOHN FOX
EPISTLE DEDICATORY
The glory of Christ is not our study, or certes, is the least part of our study. To know that crucified sacrifice of Christ’s body to be a perfect deliverance of all his people from the beginning to the end of the world, to be a full satisfaction once and.
THE SERMON
CHRIST CRUCIFIED
And thus much concerning the function of ministers, whose office is, as you have heard, to be messengers or ambasadors of Christ in dispensing
Here now cometh in the joyful message and glad tidings of the gospel, which St. Thirdly, neither must we think this remission of the new testament to be like to the remission of sins practiced in the old law, which stood by sacrifices.
Of the innocency of Christ, the scriptures in sundry places give witness by many ways, as well by prophetical types and shadows, as also by other
But now we confess and say, that God hath given a law to be fulfilled of man, and that he commandeth nothing. Again, where they allege the example of Zacharias and Elizabeth, whom the scripture commendeth, to be both just before God, and to walk in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord, etc., <420101>Luke 1.
All which great and passing miracles notwithstanding, the cruel Jews yet ceased not to envy and malign him, and at last brought him to the torments
From my bodily parts go further to the inward motions and affections of the mind; search me both within and without. Or who can set by the world, that seeth the world to be such an extreme enemy to the Son of God our Redeemer.
Having thus passed over the pains and punishments of Christ; to proceed now to the third and last part of my text, it remaineth further to entreat
Christ, to redeem us from the curse of the law, was made for us accursed;. Even so no trembling conscience needeth now to fear the power of the law, that is in Christ.
That if ye find by the scripture or God, or any approved doctor, that the sacrificed body of the Son of God, suffering once upon the cross on
Because here remaineth behind an empty page of white paper to be supplied with some writing or other; I thought no better matter for my purpose than to write a word or two to you, which hold so devoutly with the proceedings of Rome, craving at your hands, that, forasmuch as the controversies between you and us are weighty, and chiefly stand upon the effect and working of Christ’s passion, you will therefore give the reading hereof; either to consent to the doctrine, if ye think it consonant or to refute the same if ye mislike it. That if ye find by the scripture or God, or any approved doctor, thatthe sacrificed body of the Son of God, suffering once upon the cross on.
Or, that the promise of God, which is to salvation, standeth not free, without any condition of work or works to be added to that effect, save
Finally, instead of the pope’s blessing, give us thy blessing, Lord, we beseech thee, and conserve the peace of thy church and course of thy blessed gospel. And forasmuch as thy poor little flock can scarcely have any place or rest in this world, come Lord, we beseech thee, with thy, It is finished, and make an end, that this world may have no more time nor place here, and that thy church may have rest for ever.
Or, that faith in Christ is not the only mean and instrument whereby this passion is made to us effectual; you will bring out your proofs,
For these and all other necessities requisite to be begged and prayed for, asking in Christ’s name, and as he hath taught us, let us say the Lord’s prayer. By the which scriptures, if you shall find the contrary to be true, that is, 1.
And that the same faith in Christ is only the mean and condition whereby the passion of Christ worketh, and the promise of God giveth
As the presumption is great, so I exhort you in the Lord to beware, remembering the warning of St. Ye know what followeth, (let him be accursed.) The Lord of grace open your eyes to see, and your hearts to embrace the knowledge of his truth, to his glory, and your spiritual comfort, and everlasting life in him.
CHRIST JESUS TRIUMPHANT
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, COMFORT IN CHRIST JESUS
In the same ease and cause of quarrel which he had with our Master, he laboreth to master us, using his force in and upon our flesh, giving us often in conflict a foil or a fall; but it is the fall of the flesh, not of the spirit; of the body, not of the soul; of Adam, the old and outward man, not of Christ, the inward and the new. Read, and accept this comfortable treatise which I have translated; therein shalt thou find faithfully set before thine eyes, what Christ hath done for us in his passion, and what he requireth of us again, for being made partakers of the fruits of his passion.
CHRIST JESUS TRIUMPHANT,
BY JOHN FOX
Wilt thou have a sight of the wonderful workmanship and riches of this thy invisible world. There is no speedier or more glorious a victory than obedience wholly referring and framing itself to the will of the Lord.
OF FREE
JUSTIFICATION BY CHRIST,
EPISTLE
Also the voice of the prophet is commanded to prophesy with a loud cry to the cities of Judah concerning the Savior their King, and his reward, and the saving grace and glory of God, which was to be revealed in that people. That he would defend the afflicted cause of the gospel, against the plagues of error, disappoint the attempts of malicious persons endeavoring our destruction, and still disorderly tumults and vain janglings in the church.
JUSTIFICATION BY CHRIST
INHERENT RIGHTEOUSNESS, UNTO PERFECTION, CAN NO WHERE BE FOUND IN THIS NATURE
Yea, this is the thing, say you, which you endeavor in these books disputing of righteousness. For righteousness, as you say, is the only remedy for restoring life, and regaining health; yea, this is the very thing that I chiefly find fault with; not because you write of righteousness.
A TWOFOLD ACCOUNT OF DOCTRINE; ONE OF THE LAW, AND ANOTHER OF THE GOSPEL
HOW EASY IT IS TO ERR IN THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION
You will say, this complaint of the prophet belongs not to all, but only to the Jews who in those times. Or, as if the godly works of the saints were not acceptable to God, which God himself hath commanded to be done; for thus you reason concerning works — that they come not indeed without faith, and the grace of God, but yet so, that when they come, you affirm, that the.
FAITH JUSTIFIES NO OTHERWISE, BUT UPON THE ACCOUNT OF GOOD WORKS, ACCORDING TO THE
And yet you talk to us of no other way to the kingdom of life, but that which is defiled by the ministry of the law, and the exercise of charity. Must you not here of necessity be compelled to leave the righteousness of the law, and presently to appeal to the righteousness of Christ.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL
Indeed it must be confessed, if you consider the things by themselves, and compare the one with the other by a mutual relation, there seems not to be any difference between the righteousness of Christ, and that of the law. But if you consider the efficacy and manner of working, which the righteousness of Christ and of the law exercises in others — if you consider the effect and end of both, there is a great difference.
CONCERNING EVANGELICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
For by the law the wrath of God is declared from heaven, being justly kindled against all men that are wicked and unjust upon any account. For if the law of God, according to the nature of righteousness, cannot avoid condemning those that are guilty of.
What then do good works avail?
For, whereas there is no man but confesses that righteousness is in Christ in its highest perfection; and we have already heard from the law, that there is no fellowship of righteousness with unrighteousness; here some difficulty comes in, how it comes to pass, that the Lord Christ, all whose judgments are most just, can or ought, against righteousness, to favor those who, having forsaken their duty, have turned aside to unrighteousness. If by faith, whether by faith only, or by the help of works joined with it.
What faith that is, and of what sort it is, which is said to justify?
If upon the account of works, whether before works, or after works, or in the very works.
Whom this faith justifies?
But at present you have to do with men that are troubled, and to whom it is not sufficient to retain only the name of a Savior, unless we have also a right understanding of the efficacy of his death which he suffered for us, and of the power that he hath to save, and the great benefits he hath bestowed upon us, and his exceeding great love and goodwill towards us, and the infinite riches that are promised to us in him. Therefore you must proceed further, and help the afflicted minds of the godly, that they may know and believe, not only that there is eternal and durable life in Christ, but also that they may be taught the way, and means, and manner, how that life comes to us, and to whom it belongs, and what we must observe in attaining unto it.
WHAT THE POWER AND EFFICACY OF FAITH IS; WHOM IT JUSTIFIES, AND HOW
Now the use of the law consists in this, that it should bring us to Christ, and be subservient to his glory. Verily that is not the office of the law, but of Christ: and it is not righteousness, but grace that does this.
UPON WHAT ACCOUNT, AND HOW, FAITH JUSTIFIES FALLEN SINNERS
They are far from making us of servants, freemen, of slaves of Satan, sons of God, heirs of his kingdom, coheirs of Christ, fellow-citizens of the saints, and. Will you send us to the faith of Christ, or to the sentence of the law, to heal our wounds.
AN ANSWER TO THE ACCUSATIONS OF OSORIO IN DEFENSE OF LUTHER
The wrath is so very great, that there is no hope of appeasing the Father but by the price and death of the Son. Moreover, so great is the loving kindness of the Son towards us, that he grudged not for our sakes to bring upon himself this infinite load of wrath, which otherways our frailty, however assisted with all the help of moral virtues, had never been able to sustain.
WHENCE FAITH HATH RECEIVED ITS EFFICACY
What is the cause, but because those things are not valued by MERITS, but by FAITH; not by the condition of the work, but of the worker;. IN JUSTIFICATION, NOT SO MUCH THEE CONDITION OFTHE DEEDS AS OF THE PERSONS, IS REGARDED.
IN JUSTIFICATION, NOT SO MUCH THEE CONDITION OF THE DEEDS AS OF THE PERSONS, IS REGARDED
Not according to their obedience, nor by their deeds, nor after their deeds, but by the faith of the promise, and a free donation before all obedience. But the son, to whom the house is delivered, wholly and forever, is never driven out of the house.
THE ABSURDITIES THAT ARISE FROM THE OSORIAN (ROMISH) RIGHTEOUSNESS
For if those, saith he, that are of the law, are heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of none effect. You, on the contrary, being neither deterred by their fearful example, nor regarding the apostolical instruction; and making no distinction between these different kinds of righteousness, seem to comprehend all in that one righteousnessness of the law, as if the righteousness of faith were none at all.
THE ARGUMENTS WHEREBY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO WORKS ARE ANSWERED
Therefore, if they are not unrighteous, nothing hinders them from being admitted with bold access into the presence of the Divine Majesty, through the benefit of their Redeemer. For, as the wound is infinite that is inflicted on our nature, so it is just that a remedy of the like nature should be applied, the strength and greatness whereof being infinite, may, by proportionable greatness, be suited to the Majesty offended; which verily consists, not in repentance, or charity, or any offices of ours, and is contained in Christ only, who is the only begotten Son of God.
CONCERNING THE PRAISE OF REPENTANCE, THE DIGNITY AND BENEFIT, AND PECULIAR OFFICE, THEREOF
And teach us “that there is no other way at all, either to avert destruction, or procure salvation.” F76. Namely, that there is indeed necessarily required a sincere reformation of heart and life, in those who are to obtain life.
