A07407:135
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.
If, when they have received the knowledge of God, and of their saviour Jesus Christ, they have ones escaped & fled from the filthiness of this world, and afterward again do suffer them self ⟨p. lxvi⟩with the same vices to be entangled and overcome, their latter time is made much worse than the first. Matthew .x. He that denieth me before men. I will deny him before my father in Heaven, Matthew .xxiiii. He that continueth till the end shall be saved. Matthew .xxv. Go you from me ye cursed into fire everlasting. I hungered and you gave me no meat. &c. and .i. Corinth. xiii. And I had all Faith and not Love, I were nothing Although that for our own virtues and works we are not just, that is to say accepted before God, yet must we have a new obedience in us (though it be not perfect) as men which be ruled and led with the spirit of God, as the sons and children of God. As the first epistle of John .iii. cap. In this are known the sons of God, and the sons of the Devil. He that doth not just is not of God. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. My little babes, let no man deceive you: He that doth justly, is just: be that worketh sin is of the Devil. The nature of man is so weak and ready to evil, that it doth alway extenuate and make small the greatness of their offences, making them either to be none (as they do flatter with them selves) or else if they be offences, to be very small. ⟨image 67⟩But mark what bitter threatenings these be. What might be said more sore more terrible than these words. He that worketh sin, is of the Devil, that is to say, he is bond to the Devil: he is led and governed by the Devil: being forsaken of the holy Ghost, and out cast from God: as the end of him doth testify.
If, when they haue receyued the knowledge of God, and of theyr sauiour Iesu Christ, they haue ones escaped & fledde from the fylthynes of this world, and afterwarde agayne do suffer them selfe ⟨p. lxvi⟩with the same vices to be entangled and ouercome, theyr latter tyme is made much worse than the fyrst. Mathewe .x. He that denieth me before men. I wyll denye him before my father in Heauen, Mathewe .xxiiii. He that continueth til the ende shalbe saued.