A07407:101
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.
¶ Howe our works may please God.
¶ Howe our workes may please God.
FOR as much as in them which he regenerated remaineth yet great imbecility and weakness, not having the fear (which they ought to have) of God: not burning in Faith and love, seeketh the help of man, more than the word of God permitteth, being seducted with errors, and negligent in doing their duty and office, being proud and puffed up with immoderate affections of love and hatred, courting unhonest and unlawful pleasures: and in their afflictions & troubles bending their brows against the lord, doubting, or rather despairing of his mercy, are inflamed with unjust desire of vengeance, doeth not with heart declare them self to God gentle and loving: not thanking him heartily for his great benefits, passing not much whether the Gospel doth go backward or forward, not bewailing the calamities and miserable state of the church, and of the common wealth, not praying for ⟨p. li⟩the church, and for princes: but being set a fire with unjust desire of gathering together of richesse, honours, and of power, hating them which do shine in godly virtues and godly gifts, or rather caysyng up slanders on them: as the contention of superiority between the sister of Moses and Aaron did cause stubbornness.
FOR as muche as in them which he regenerated remayneth yet greate imbecillitie and weaknes, nat hauynge the feare (which they oughte to haue) of God: nat brennynge in Faythe and loue, seketh the helpe of man, more than the worde of God permitteth, beynge seducted with errors, and neglygent in doynge theyr duetye and offyce, beynge proude and puffed vp with immoderat affections of loue and hatred, courtynge vnhonest and vnlawful pleasures: and in theyr afflictiōs & troubles bendyng theyr browes agaynst the lord, doubtynge, or rather dispayryng of his mercy, are inflamed with vniust desyre of vengeaunce, doeth nat with herte declare them selfe to God gentyll and louyng: nat thankyng him hertely for his great benefytes, passyng nat much whether the Gospel doth go backewarde or forward, nat bewaylyng the calamities and miserable state of the churche, and of the common welth, nat prayenge for