A07407:172
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.
Justice is in our will. But faith is in understanding. Ergo Faith is not justice.
Iustice is in our wyll. But fayth is in vnderstandynge. Ergo Fayth is nat iustice.
¶ The first part which is called the Major is true, concerning the justice of the law, which justice doeth signify our own qualities and virtues which are in our will. But when that Paul doeth speak of the justice of faith, he doth not mean our virtues or qualities, but our free acceptation & imputation of justice, that is to say, that we be made right wise by faith, which are in deed unright ⟨image 78⟩wise. For he teacheth that men are reputed just, that is accepted to God, not for our own qualities, but for an other thing without us, and that is our mediator the Son of God, only by mercy. The which mercy must be received by faith The which faith is not only a knowledge of the mind, but it is also a consentment and agreement to the promise, believing the promise to be true: whereto is required the motion and stirring of the will, as learned men doth know, which motion is both to will and also to receive the promise & so to rest in it.
¶ The fyrst part which is called the Maior is true, concernyng the iustyce of the lawe, which iustice doeth signifie oure owne qualities and vertues which are in our wyll. But when that Paull doeth speake of the iustyce of fayth, he dotth nat meane our vertues or qualities, but our free acceptation & imputatiō of iustice, that is to say, that we be made right wise by fayth, which are in dede vnright