A07407:130
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.
¶ BUT for all that our discipline and obedience must be present and ready calling for help by Faith. As Peter sayeth. Be you waking for the Devil goeth still about like a ravening Lion seeking whom he may devour. And as touching our discipline it is said. I do chasten my body bringing it into bondage. Let the fear of God continually resist our desires and temptations. Let ⟨p. lxiiii⟩Faith call for help and pardon of our infirmity. Let us mark the examples which do declare the greatness of sin. and the pains both perpetual and also present in this life therefore. As Joseph being tempted and moved by the tentation of his Lady and mistress: not with out great battle and fight of mind did resist the fury of the woman and the crafty assaults of the Devil, he perceived that the Devil went about first to pollute him with sin, and so to pluck him from God: to spill and rob him of the gift of prophecy, to make him naked of all heavenly ornaments and gifts to raise up a slander whereby the doctrine of Joseph should be had in less estimation and regard, that God should be evil spoken by, and finally that the true religion, which was but new sprung up should be utterly extinguished and put out of memory.
¶ BVT for all that our discipline and obedience must be present and redy callinge for helpe by Fayth. As Peter sayeth. Be you wakinge for the Deuyl goeth styl about lyke a raueninge Lion sekinge whome he maye deuoure. And as touchinge our discipline it is sayd. I do chasten my body bringinge it into bondage. Let the feare of God continuallye resyst our desyres and temptations. Let ⟨p. lxiiii⟩Fayth call for helpe and pardon of oure infyrmitie. Let vs marke the examples which do declare the greatnes of sinne. and the paynes both perpetuall and also present in this lyfe therefore. As Ioseph being tempted and moued by the tentation of his Lady and maistres: nat with out great battayle and fyght of mynde did resist the fury of the woman and the crafty assaultes of the Deuyl, he perceyued that the Deuyl went about fyrst to pollute him with sinne, and so to plucke him from God: to spyl and robbe him of the gift of ꝓphecie, to make him naked of al heuenly ornamentes and gyftes to rayse vp a sclander wherby the doctrine of Ioseph shulde be had in lesse estimation and regarde, that God shulde be euil spoken by, and finally that the true religion, whiche was but newe spronge vp shulde be vtterly extinguished and putte out of memory.