A07407:155
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.
¶ The which dangerous peril our fathers were well ware of. Therefore Augustine and Bernard agreeing to the Apostle his writing, said that freely for Christ sake is given life everlasting to him that believeth, and as Paul further more doth testify with these words. The gift of God, is life everlasting through Christ Jesus our Lord. This is no uncertain gift, the Lord commanding that we do believe, and that we shall receive life everlasting for Christ sake alone, as John the .vi. chap. This is the will of the father: that all men which believeth in the son shall have life everlasting. This Faith doeth not consist without repentance, but it doth consider and behold both parts of the saying of Christ, which is. I live, I ⟨p. lxxiiii⟩will not the death of a sinner, but I will that he repenteth and have life. But by which way? by the Son, as he sayeth: this is the will of the father, that all men that believeth in the Son shall be saved, and have life everlasting.
¶ The which daungerous peryl our fathers were wel ware of. Therfore Augustine and Bernarde agreinge to the Apostle his wrytyng, sayde that frely for Christ sake is giuen lyfe euerlasting to him that beleueth, and as Paul forther more doth testyfy with these wordes. The gyft of God, is lyfe euerlastinge thorowe Christ Iesu our Lorde. Thys is no vncertayne gyfte, the Lorde commaundinge that we do beleue, and that we shall receyue lyfe euerlastinge for Christ sake alone, as Iohn the .vi. chap. This is the wyll of the father: that all men which beleueth in the son shal haue lyfe euerlasting. This Fayth doeth nat consist without repentance, but it doth consyder and beholde both partes of the sayinge of Christe, whiche is. I lyue, I ⟨p. lxxiiii⟩wyl nat the death of a sinner, but I wyl that he repenteth and haue lyfe. But by which way? by the sonne, as he sayethe: this is the wyl of the father, that al men that beleueth in the sonne shalbe saued, and haue lyfe euerlastinge.
¶ Wherefore notwithstanding that repentance is required at our hand, we may not think that the condition of our worthiness is to be admitted.