A07407:150
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.
¶ Love is the principal and chiefest of all virtues. Ergo.1 for love we are reputed just. I do deny plainly the consequent, the reason is manifest for it would follow much better if you would say, Love is the chefest and godliest of all virtues. Ergo. Because we can not perform that love as we ought to do, we are nothing justified for that virtue. If we had the virtues which the law of god doth require, and were without sin then we might be said well, to be just for love & other virtues: but because of our weakness and great infirmity is far from that perfection of the law, not beginning in love as we ought to do, therefore the gospel setteth forth an other justice teaching us not for our own virtues but for some other thing that is not in us: that is for our mediators sake, the Son of god: to be reputed just, but under a condition: that by faith we do assure our self, that god is merciful to us for his sonne sake. It followeth that we be by imputation, that is to say, because it pleaseth him to impute it to us, of his only goodness and favour, being made just, not for our own virtues, though we seem to have some beginning of them in us. But if a man will demand and know the difference, of virtues, ⟨image 73⟩mark well.2 Faith receiveth in this life remission of sin. Hope is a looking and a trusting in deed after that thing which is promised, that is our clean deliverance, which is to come. Faith is a consent, wherewith the will of man willeth and receiveth the promise, so being made quiet and at rest, well settled in his mind, for the mediator the Son of God his sake. And when the will is so contented, then the heart is at rest and well pleased, receiving comfort and gladness, which is the beginning of a new life. These motions followeth Hope and Love.
¶ Loue is the pryncipall and chifest of all vertuse. Ergo.1 for loue we are reputed iuste. I doo denie plainly the consequent, the reason is manifest for it wold folowe muche better if you wolde saye, Loue is the chefest and godliest of al vertuse. Ergo. Bycause we canne not perfourme that loue as we ought to do, we are nothing iustified for that vertue. If we had the vertues whiche the lawe of god doth require, and were without syn then we might be sayde well, to be iuste for loue & other vertues: but bycause of our wekenesse and gret infirmite is far from that parfection of the law, not begynnyng in loue as we ought to do, therfore the gospel setteth forth an other iustice teaching vs not for our owne vertuse but for some other thyng that is not in vs: that is for our mediatours sake, the sonne of god: to be reputed iust, but vnder a condition: that by feithe we do assure our selfe, that god is merciful to vs for his sonne sake. It foloweth that we be by imputation, that is to saye, bycause it pleaseth hym to impute it to vs, of his only goodnes and fauour, beinge made iuste, nat for oure owne vertues, though we seme to haue some beginnīg of them in vs. But if a man wyll demaund and knowe the difference, of vertues,