A07407:152
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.
¶ They do lay for them this word and vocable (Reward), saying. The life everlasting is called a reward. Ergo,1 good works do deserve life everlasting. I will not seek any crafty interpretation of this vocable reward, but the thing and matter it self must be substantially mayed and pondered.
¶ They do lay for them this word and vocable (Rewarde), sayinge. The lyfe euerlasting is called a rewarde. Ergo,1 good workes do deserue lyfe euerlasting. I wil nat seke any crafty interpretation of this vocable rewarde, but the thing and matter it selfe must be substicially mayed and pondered.
- 1The sixth objection.The syxte obiection.
¶ The psalmist sayeth: Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight, no living creature shall be justified Also what man doth know and under stand our offences, which declareth that by our virtues we can not merit life everlasting, making them to be the price and reward of the same life. Before I gathered together many testimonies which do teach us that in those men which be regenerated a new by the spirit of God there doeth remain sin. which testimonies in this place we must lay before our eyes. And let every man examine his own conscience, whether he had rather that life eternal should be given to him for Christ sake, or to be ⟨image 74⟩payed to him as a reward for his merits. Thou would peradventure say to me.
¶ The psalmist sayeth: Enter nat into iudgement with thy seruant, for in thy sight, no liuing creature shal be iustified Also what man doth knowe and vnder stand our offences, which declareth that by our vertues we canne nat merite lyfe euerlasting, making them to be the price and rewarde of the same lyfe. Before I gathered togyther many testimonyes whiche do teache vs that in those men whiche be regenerated a newe by the spirite of God there doeth remayne synne. which testimonies in this place we must lay before our eyes. And let euery man examine his owne conscience, whether he had rather that lyfe eternal shulde be giuen to him for Christe sake, or to be