A07407:119
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 be short likewise as invocation and prayer: so must Faith glister and shine in all our works & deeds. Although ⟨p. lviii⟩that the virtues and works of good men do not deserve and merit eternal felicity, and remission of sin, being not able to bye and to purchase everlasting life (for no man can fulfil the Law, being contrary to all reason, that the merits of Christ should be referred to our works and merits, making the promise uncertain if it should depend on the condition of our worthiness) nevertheless a new obedience otherwise called good works must necessarily follow Faith,1 which obedience then, and not before hath the beginning: when by Faith we do receive the holy Ghost, which faith and holy ghost we do cast away from us as often as we do lose this new obedience,2 transgressing the commandments of god against our conscience. For these twain, Faith, and a will to do or to work against conscience, can in no case dwell together. To this effect pertaineth many sayings of works, with heart we believe to our justification, with mouth we give knowledge to our salvation. All our whole obedience must be a knowledginge and a confession, that is must be referred to the glory of Christ, and furtherance of the gospel. For albeit by Christ we are made just, and heirs of life everlasting: yet must we have still ⟨image 59⟩this obedience, which is pleasant and acceptable as I have said, being not possible that Faith can be without this obedience. Paul bearing thereto witness saying Let us be clad with an other garment: lest we be found naked. For Christ his sake, life everlasting is given to none but to them which do believe, in the which Faith beginneth everlasting life, which beginning is the new obedience and works.3 Our works be excluded that Christ may have his own honour and praise, that the promise might be certain, and that we may have a sure comfort and consolation against desperation. The these hanging on the cross being converted had this new obedience repenting and lamenting his sin.4