A07407:10
The justification of man by faith onlyThe iustification of man by faith only
The justification of man by faith only: made and written by Philip Melanchthon. and translated out of the Latin in to this our mother tongue by Nicholas Less of London An apology or defence of the word of God, declaring what a necessary thing it is, to be in all mens hands, the want where of is the only cause of all ungodliness committed through the whole earth, made by the said Nicholas LessThe iustification of man by faith only: made and vvritten by Phylyp Melanchton. and translated out of the Latyn in to this oure mother tonge by Nicholas Lesse of London An apologie or defence of the worde of God, declaringe what a necessary thynge it is, to be in all mennes handes, the want wher of is the only cause of al vngodlienes committed thorowe the whole earth, made by the sayde Nicholas Lesse
Imprinted at London : In Fleet street at the sign of the George next to Saint Dunstones church by William Powell, in the year of our Lord God .M.CCCCC.XLVIII. the .XI. day of October 1548Imprinted at London : In Flete strete at the signe of the George next to Saynt Dunstones church by VVilliam Powell, in the yere of oure Lorde God .M.CCCCC.XLVIII. the .XI. daye of October 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
¶ An other sort there is, to whom Christ is somewhat more beholding not so openly malicious as they be: but no less dangerous, for as much as they do come more under colour of virtue. At whose hands Christ loseth not all his labour, being allowed as yet for half a saviour. Our salvation being cut of in the midst: that one half to Christ: and that other to their own works ascribed.1 These be the holy Hypocrites which perceiving and seeing the light of the Gospel so shining abroad all the world, that their abominable treachery to God can no longer be hid, do now at the last mitigate and swage some thing that great and foul error, wherein they made Christ to lose all his labour, all his pains, all his bloodshed as much as lay in them. They do sauce it (I say) with Sugar: they do mix Honey with Poison to beguile the poor souls the more craftily and subtly, saying that with works and faith together they must ⟨image 5⟩or justified, so that from our justification in no case they will exclude works: for none other purpose, but to maintain and hold up the filthy dignity of those works which they have invented by their own brains for lucre sake The word of God,2 which is the most finest Treacle that may be: can not chose but expel this deadly Poison from the heart of man.
¶ An other sorte there is, to whome Christe is somewhat more beholdynge nat so openly malicious as they be: but no lesse dangerous, for as much as they do come more vnder coloure of vertue. At whose handes Christe lesyth nat all hys laboure, beynge allowed as yet for halfe a sauioure. Our saluation beynge cutte of in the myddes: that one halfe to Christe: and that other to theyr owne workes ascrybed.1 These be the holy Hipocrites which perceyuynge and seyng the lyght of the Gospell so shynynge abrode all the worlde, that theyr abhominable traytery to God can no lenger be hydde, do nowe at the last mitigate and swage some thynge that greate and foule errour, wherein they made Christ to lese all his labour, all his paynes, all hys bloudshed as muche as lay in them. They do sause it (I saye) with Sewgar: they do myxe Hony with Poyson to begyle the poore soules the more craftely and subtyllye, sayenge that with workes and faythe togyther they muste