A07407:113
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.
¶ TO the Lord be all righteousness: to §xi.us pertaineth confusion and utter shame, that we are not able to show abroad our faces, which is as much to say. I knowledge that we have sinned, and that we are justly punished of thee: it followeth. Confusion to us is proper, to the truly belongeth mercy and pity, that is to say. I knowledge that we are sinners, but thou for thy mercy sake, which is promised here ones again to our prayer and deliver us. The which sentence, the Prophet afterward repeating, sayeth. We pray the not for our righteousness sake, but for thy great mercy. These manner of teachings and preachings are repeated to us with one consent of all the old fathers in the scriptures. Our weakness is alway accused, we are commanded by Faith to fly to mercy, through the Son of God, promised which is our mediator. Likewise Paul doeth not accuse one certain kind and sort of men, but without any exception he affirmeth all men to be guilty of sin, only Christ excepted, before god, saying these words, that all mens mouths may be stopped, and all the whole world guilty before God. He concluded all men to be under sin, to the intent that all men ⟨p. lvi⟩should know them self needy of mercy. Also Paul sayeth He that is proud and rejoiceth: let him be proud in the lord. These and such other like sentences set good men set before them, that they may learn to know their infirmities to be sin without doubt, and that they may fear the wrath of God, which is against sin, and so let repentance grow in us. It is said in the Genesis concerning the latter judgement. Sin shall be at rest till it be revealed and made open. Wherein the carelessness of mankind is described, which doth neither fear nor regard the judgement of god. He sayeth sin shall be at rest, that because the lord which doeth prolong and differ his punishments: all men will be sluggards without care: despising the threatenings of god, but at the last their sin shall be laid forth and set abroad that it can not be hid. There it shall not rest, but it shall bring to mans mind everlasting terror and fear with horrible and sore pains.
¶ TO the Lorde be al rightwisnes: to §xi.vs perteyneth cōfusiō and vtter shame, that we are nat able to shewe abrode our faces, which is as much to say. I knowledge that we haue sinned, and that we are iustly punished of the: it folowethe. Confusion to vs is proper, to the truely belōgeth mercy and pitie, that is to say. I knowledge that we are sinners, but thou for thy mercy sake, whiche is promised here ones agayne to our praier and deliuer vs. The which sentence, the Prophete afterwarde repeting, sayeth. We pray the nat for oure rightwisnesse sake, but for thy great mercy. These maner of teachynges and preachinges are repeted to vs with one consent of al the olde fathers in ye scriptures. Our wekenes is alway accused, we are commaunded by Fayth to flye to mercy, thorowe the sonne of God, promised whiche is our mediator. Likewise Paul doeth nat accuse one certayne kinde and sorte of men, but without any exception he affyrmeth al men to be gylty of sinne, only Christ excepted, before god, sayinge these wordes, that all mennes mouthes may be stopt, and al the whole world giltie before God. He concluded al men to be vnder sinne, to the entent that al men