A07407:170
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.
¶ An other.
Sin is the hatred of God. Ergo. Love is the justice of God.
Synne is the hatred of God. Ergo. Loue is the iustice of God.
¶ With this argument Eccius thought to bind Bears, and to prove that by faith only we are not justified,1 and I think no boy of the paruis schools, is ⟨p. lxxvii⟩so foolish and ignorant, but that can put this blow aside without any danger. I do grant that perfect love is the justice which the law doeth require. But as I have said we are not just by the law. For it is unpossible that love should be before we are by faith reconciled. After the which reconciliation, followeth a beginning of a new obedience and life, remaining still in us great infirmity and weakness repugnant to the law of God, which doeth disdain and rage against the judgement of God, as the Psalm. Be you angry, but sin not Therefore we must have an other manner of justice, which is the free acceptation of God.
¶ With this argument Eccius thought to bynde Beares, and to proue that by fayth only we are nat iustified,1