A07407:134
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.
¶ 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 ⟨image 66⟩with the enticements of the world and Paul the first Epistle and .vi. chap. to the Corinthians. Go not out of the way, for whoremongers, Idolaters, Thieves. &c. shall not possess the kingdom of God. Where he witnesseth that he preacheth to them, which before had received the benefits of Christ. Than he warneth not to lose those benefits. Also the first Epistle to the Corinthians. x. chapter. Be you not idolaters, let not us be whoremongers, as some of them were, and perished in one day .xxiii. thousand men. And the .v. cap. to the Galatians. They which so do shall not attain to the kingdom of God. It followeth. He that soweth in flesh, shall reap destruction, he that soweth in spirit shall reap everlasting life. And the first Epistle to Timothy .v. cap. He that taketh no care and charge for his own family, doth deny his faith and is worse than an infidel. To the Hebrews .xiii Adulterous persons, and whoremongers the lord shall judge, and the second Epistle of Peter and second chapter.
¶ VVE nede nat in this place reason and dispute of predestination, We wyll iudge and pronounce of our dedes, and of the wyl and iudgement of God, as the worde of God expressely doth teache. If Dauyd had nat repented he had ben cast into euerlastinge tormente, as Saull. Mannes mynde is so ydle and negligent that it regardeth & passeth for nothing. Wherfore we must take good hede that we do nat flatter with that euyl, which may be couered with many colours and clokes, to make it appere to be good, honest and vertuouse. Let vs set before our eyes the word of God, as he saieth. The lanterne to my fete is the word of God. The which word beareth wytnes, that for such sinne committed: grace is gone away, and the holye Ghost cast of, as to the Romaynes viii. If ye lyue after the flesshe ye shall dye. Example we haue in Mathewe .xii. The Deuyll returnynge backe agayne to them frome whom he was caste out. doeth bringe .vii. spirites with him of a more mischeuous nature then himself, and so entring in, causeth the later parte of theyr lyfe to be muche worse than that which was past. Mathewe also in the .xiii. chap. speaking of the sede which was suffocated and strangled