The justification of man by faith onlyThe iustification of man by faith only

¶ Hitherto have I declared to you the whole sum of the teachings of the prophets, and the doctrine of the Gospel, concerning justification or Grace, concerning our reconciliation, concerning Faith and good Works. Wherefore for as much as this is plain and open, having no darkness or perplexity, without Sophistical cavillations, when it speaketh of the motions and stirrings which ⟨image 68⟩be known to virtuous minds in the church of God, containing no manner of foolish questions, but setting forth the glory of Christ, and making open the great infirmity and weakness of man, being in all points agreeable to the scripture, both of the old and new Testament, and for as much (I say) as in all ages in the church, all godly disposed people do find by experience this consolation and comfort to be true, most necessary and expedient. I marvel greatly that our adversaries be so blind, that they can not find in their heart to allow it, and much more that they be full of fury and madness, that with tooth and nail they do openly resist it. But the Devil is in the cause, which divers ways doth pour in errors into mans mind, to the intent that the glory of Christ might be obscured & made dark ❧ LET godly men therefore pray that it would please the Lord to preserve his own word and Gospel, that he do not suffer it to be forsaken, and put out of the way, that it would please him to govern us with his light, and that in setting and showing forth his truth and verity unto all men, the foul dark clouds which the Devil hath brought in, may by the bright clearness of his ⟨p. lxviii⟩word be utterly expulsed. Finally that the contagious and stinking mist of his traditions full of rot and all infection, with this burning heat may be dried up from the face of the earth.

¶ Hytherto haue I declared to you the whole summe of the teachinges of ye prophetes, and the doctryne of the Gospell, concerning iustification or Grace, concerning our reconciliation, concerning Faith and good Workes. Wherfore for as much as this is playne and open, hauing no darknes or perplexitie, without Sophistical cauilations, when it speaketh of ye motions and stirringes which ⟨image 68⟩be knowen to vertuouse mindes in the church of God, conteynyng no maner of folyshe questions, but settyng forth the glory of Christ, and makynge open the great infyrmitie and weaknes of man, being in al pointes agreable to the scripture, both of the olde and newe Testament, and for as muche (I say) as in all ages in the churche, all godly disposed people do find by experience this consolation and comfort to be trewe, most necessary and expedient. I meruayle greatly that our aduersaries be so blynd, that they can nat fynd in theyr hert to alowe it, and muche more that they be full of furye and madnes, that with toothe and nayle they do openly resist it. But the Deuyll is in the cause, whiche diuers wayes doth poure in errors into mānes mynde, to the entent that the glory of Christ myght be obscured & made darke ❧ LET godly men therefore praye that it wold please the Lord to preserue his owne worde and Gospel, that he do nat suffer it to be forsaken, and put oute of the waye, that it wolde please hym to gouerne vs with his lyght, and that in settynge and shewynge forth his truthe and veritie vnto al men, the foule darke cloudes which the Deuyl hath brought in, maye by the bryghte clearenes of his