A07407:14
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.
¶ I do offer therefore: & exhibit to your grace the mind, judgment and sentence of that noble clerk: and Godly divine Philip Melanchthon:1 a man for his intolerable pains and sweat, in setting forth the word of God sustained by him: worthy to be had in most high estimation: touching the article of our justification: by me translated forth of the Latin into English: by him so plainly: so openly set forth, his arguments, reasons, examples, and authorities being so many and so manifest: that every ploughman, which can find in his heart to learn to know to whom he shall cleave for his salvation: may with no great pains yea in passing of his time come to the knowledge: whereto he shall stand and stick to for ⟨image 7⟩his salvation. Whose doctrine in all matters: and specially in this, i• so conformable and correspondent to the Scriptures both old and new: not writhen nor wrested (as shall appear to the readers) that I think there be no man, which can be so perverse and malicious that can find any fault therewith. Except he will deny utterly Christ to be Christ and the Gospel to be true. If there be any such (as there hath ben in deed: and I fear me there be many: which loving the Devil as well as the Gospel will put away their servants: if they may know that they do but once smatter thereof) such I would wish to be banished for from all mens company: such would I desire to be in low authority & rule: that they might do little harm or none, I would wish (I say) that God of his infinite mercy would open their eyes that they might see the light of their salvation that their eyes should be no more bleared with the phantasies and authorities of men.
¶ I do offer therfore: & exhibite to your grace the mynd, iugement and sentence of that noble clarke: and Godlye deuyne Phylyp Melanchton:1 a man for his intollerable payns and sweat, in settynge forthe the woorde of God susteyned by hym: worthy to be hadde in most hyghe estymatyon: touchynge the artycle of oure iustyfycatyon: by me translated forthe of the Latyne into Englysshe: by hym so playnly: so openly set forthe, his argumentes, reasons, examples, and auctorities beynge so manye and so manyfest: that euerye plowman, whiche can fynde in hys herte to learne to knowe to whome he shal cleaue for his saluation: may with no great payns ye in passing of his tyme come to the knowledge: whereto he shal stande and stycke to for