A07407:133
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.
¶ OTHER sins there be committed against our conscience, which we do con mitt for the nonce willingly. And Paul sayeth. The works of the flesh are manifest, that is when a man against his conscience willingly doth break the commandments of God: not resisting temptation, but flattering with his own vices and naughty desires. Privily, as Saul hating David, or else openly and outwardly in outward acts and deeds. As David in taking away the wife of an other man. They which offend on this manner do lose Grace, they shake of the holy Ghost from them. They do cast away their Faith from them, in so much that without they do repent, turning again to Faith, departing forth of this life being in that miserable ⟨p. lxv⟩case, they shall perish for ever.
¶ OTHER sinnes there be cōmitted against our conscience, which we do cō myt for the nones wyllyngly. And Paull sayeth. The workes of the fleshe are manifest, that is when a man againste hys conscience willingly doth breake the cō maundementes of God: nat resistinge temptation, but flatteringe with his owne vices and noughty desyres. Pryuely, as Saull hatinge Dauid, or elles opēly and outwardly in outward actes and deds. As Dauid in taking away the wife of an other man. They whiche offende on this maner do lese Grace, they shake of the holy Ghost from thē. They do cast away theyr Fayth from them, in so muche that without they do repente, turninge againe to Faythe, departinge forth of this lyfe beinge in that miserable ⟨p. lxv⟩case, they shal perishe for euer.
¶ WE need not in this place reason and dispute of predestination, We will judge and pronounce of our deeds, and of the will and judgement of God, as the word of God expressly doth teach. If Dauyd had not repented he had ben cast into everlasting torment, as Saul. Mans mind is so idle and negligent that it regardeth & passeth for nothing. Wherefore we must take good heed that we do not flatter with that evil, which may be covered with many colours and cloaks, to make it appear to be good, honest and virtuous. Let us set before our eyes the word of God, as he sayeth. The lantern to my feet is the word of God. The which word beareth witness, that for such sin committed: grace is gone away, and the holy Ghost cast of, as to the Romans viii. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye. Example we have in Matthew .xii. The Devil returning back again to them from whom he was caste out. doeth bring .vii. spirits with him of a more mischievous nature then himself, and so entering in, causeth the later part of their life to be much worse than that which was past. Matthew also in the .xiii. chap. speaking of the seed which was suffocated and strangled