A07407:118
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.
GOD also for man hath ordained divers kinds of degrees & orders as some to be the heads and rulers of the churches, some of universities and schools, and so forth in all other kind of rulers and offices. He ordained Matrimony for the bringing up of children. The governance of the common wealths, and the kings to be the heads and chief rulers: he hath ordained wares and buying and selling between man and man. He hath ordained the church to be subject to great afflictions and troubles. For what intent was so great a diversity of things ordained, but that our Faith might shine bright in all our dangers & perils, yea and then to increase most, and that we should believe that we are not made to be destroyed, but to be received of him and saved by Christ. To call on him: to believe that Christ is our captain, which putteth away the brunts and assaults of the Devil, helping us, both in our private and public business ⟨image 58⟩He that is a Bishop,1 parson, or parish priest must cry: Lord open thou my lips,2 and my mouth shall pronounce thy praise. The schoolmaster shall cons• der how sore that Christ threateneth them which giveth slanderous occasion of life to children,3 praying that Christ would vouchsafe to be in their studies & to govern their manners. Householders: let them consider their charges likewise. Good Princes also must set their churches in a good and conform unity,4 and concord, punishing the epicurious persons, living in all voluptuousness of life, passing neither for God: nor for the Devil, and to see good order and rule among the people: chastening thieves, unchaste livers, and liars: to se• that the right be ministered, every man to have his own. The Devil stirreth about labouring to disquiet and disturb the quietness and tranquillity of the church, the common wealth: arming tyrants against the word of god Wherefore let Princes be burning in Faith: believing that Christ is their helper and destroyer of the work of the Devil.