A07407:103
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.
¶ FOR as much I say as these great •yces do yet reign in them: ye which are borne again in a new birth, vices I say much contrary and repugnant to the law of God, worthy death everlasting, springing from the most pestilent well and fountain of all mischief. I say Original sin, that is the ignorance and want of the knowledge of god, and froward turning thy self away from the will of God, (of the which vices Paul speaking describeth no small deformity: but a great and monstrous evil, saying, the sense, feeling, and pricking of the flesh is mortal enemy to God), it is manifest therefore that no man can perform and satisfy the Law but only Christ, and that in the new borne by Faith, there doth remain sin contrary to the Law of god, and worthy everlasting death without they be forgiven. Sith that this is true: not only ⟨image 52⟩in the schools, but also in mens minds thꝭ question being reasoned causeth no small perils and contention within man, reasoning with other, yea, and with their own selves, whether they please God yea or nay: secondly how this impure, and imperfect new life can please God being so full of uncleanness.
¶ FOR as much I say as these greate •yces do yet reygne in them: ye whiche are borne againe in a newe byrth, vices I say much contrary and repugnante to the lawe of God, worthy deathe euerlastinge, spryngynge from the most pesty•ent well and fountayne of al mischefe. I say Originall sinne, that is the ignorance and want of the knowlege of god, and frowarde turnynge thy selfe awaye from the wyl of God, (of the whiche vyces Paul speakinge discribeth no small deformite: but a great and monstruouse euyll, saying, the sence, felyng, and pricking of the fleshe is mortall enemye to God), it is manifest therfore that no mā can performe and satisfie the Lawe but only Christ, and that in the newe borne by Fayth, there doth remaine sinne contrary to the Lawe of god, and worthy euerlastynge death without they be forgyuen. Syth that this is true: nat onely ⟨image 52⟩in the scholes, but also in mens mindes thꝭ questiō being resoned causeth no sma• perylles and contention within man, resonyng with other, yea, and with theyr owne selfes, whether they please God ye or nay: secondly howe this impure, and imperfect newe lyfe can please God beynge so full of vnclennesse.