A07407:109
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.
¶ ALSO Romans. 7. cap. I do see §iii.and feel another Law in my members striving against the Law of my mind making me bond under the Law of sin. And often times Paul doth repeat the word of sin, signifying to us that ⟨image 54⟩it striveth in us alway against the Law of God,1 deserving eternal death: except by Faith, our pardon be obtained, meaning by that word sin, not only the small motions, stirrings and prickings of the flesh, but also the sharp motions of the mind, that is to say, the mistrust of the will of God, abhorring the cross not being lift up and erected with trust and gladness in the Lord, as we be when we do find ease and help of our bodily diseases and sickness. From the which diffidence and mistrust, riseth many evil and naughty minds. Therefore the Apostle useth .ii. vocables in the same text to the Romans, very proper and mete for this purpose. The first is this word striving or fighting against: signifying thereby that like a most cruel enemy in an open field: it doeth fight against us and seeketh all means & crafts to wound our mind with mistrust in the mercy of God, with terrors and great fear, with pride, with trust unto our own wit, and righteousness of our self, putting us out of all care of God, and kindling us the flame of all naughty lusts and filthy desires. The second vocable is this, (going about to make me captive) the which is so said because thou shouldest take the better heed of him, whose ⟨p. liiii⟩study is to have us in bondage, oppressing the weak minds, and at the last taking us prisoners, though we be again delivered by Christ. As when Moses was snared and taken at the rock, he doubted and mistrusted. Dauyd also was taken when he commanded to number his people, either deceived by error, or else by vainglory that he had augmented and increased his kingdom so mightily or for some such like cause. We shall not need to bring forth many examples: every virtuous man hath enough of such examples within his own doors, by their own experience, feeling and seeing how diligent and busy our enemy is to seduce and oppress our mind with our own opinions and phantasies. For the devil doth never cease to besiege the virtuous and faithful men in specially.