A07407:16
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 first containeth the declaration of this vocable and word Justice how it is taken in the Philosophers and how with the Gospel, and what they be both in effect, showing what the law of God doth require of us: and what we can perform of our own selves. And at the last what remedy by what means is to be had for our infirmity.
¶ The fyrste conteynethe the declaratyon of this vocable and word Iustice howe it is taken in the Phylosophers and howe with the Gospell, and what they be bothe in effecte, shewynge what the lawe of God doth requyre of vs: and what we can perfourme of oure owne selfes. And at the laste what remedy by what meanes is to be hadde for oure infyrmytye.
¶ The second part doeth teach the right understanding of these vocables and words. The law, the Gospel, Sin, Justification, Grace, and faith, how and in what manner after the sincere doctrine of the Gospel every one of these vocables must be taken. The blindness and ignorance whereof: hath brought so great darkness into the world: that the clear brightness of the Gospel could not be perceived: but made dark, cloudy, and so misty that men had no list to have the word of God in their hands, as a thing most asperous and bitter and fore from all comfort. The which thing did cause the ungracious and perverse manner of ⟨image 8⟩interpretation of the said vocables and words contrary to the right sense and meaning of them. The right understanding and meaning thereof perceived and known: that which seemed before dark and cloudy, shall appear now bright, shining, like the sun as clear as any Crystal: that which was hard and rugged: shall be found soft and tender: and finally, which seemed to be as bitter as Gall, shall be more sweet then any Honey. So great an all teratyon shall the word of God bring with it.
¶ The seconde parte doethe teache the ryghte vnderstandynge of these vocables and wordes. The lawe, the Gospell, Synne, Iustification, Grace, and faythe, howe and in what maner after the sincere doctryn of the Gospel euery one of these vocables must be taken. The blyndnes and ignoraunce wherof: hath broughte so greate darkenesse into the worlde: that the cleare bryghtnesse of the Gospel coulde nat be perceyued: but made darke, clowdye, and so mysty that men hadde no lyst to haue the worde of God in theyr handes, as a thynge most asperous and bytter and fore frome all comforte. The whiche thinge did cause the vngracious and peruerse maner of