A07407:194
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.
And the lord which doeth see your compassion on them for his sake, will a thousand fold reward you again, that you should not think your labour ill bestowed. What is the cause of all these miserable calamities which the pore souls do abide and sustain? what is the cause, the Bishops, Persons ⟨p. lxxxiiii⟩and Curates do not their duties. Forsooth the lack and want both of the fear & of the love of the lord: whose most high majesty if they had in fear, either for his threatenings and curses, considering all the woes, contained in the old and new Testament for their negligent administration: or else if they had him in love, for his great and unspeakable goodness declared unto us all, they would be sore ashamed ones to be espied with so great a fault. But they fear neither God nor the Devil. They love him not for his great goodness, nor yet they do fear him for his threatenings. I fear me, that there be many: I pray god that there be none, which do think the speaking of God and of the Devil to be, as it were, but an old wives tale or fable invented by the policy of man and natural reason, to keep men in an order while they be in this life, as did think many of the blind Philosophers the Epicures thinking none other life after this present:1 did de live in all kind of delights and pleasures. I trust in the lord that he hath sent an angel among us with a two handed sword to cut away clean these discords and abuses to his glory eternal. What need I speak of men of power, which by their power and strength, by ⟨image 85⟩no equity nor justice,2 against conscience and right, care not a bean what wrong and injury they do to the mean sort, if that either house or land, pastures or woods doth lie commodiously for their purpose: and specially when it joineth to any part of theirs. Such as doth thus have not red the blessing in the old Testament contained with the reward prepared for them, which do join house to house, field to field, farm upon farm, some one man .xx. some .xxx. some .xl. scant xx, good men which should be able to serve their prince at need maintained, where in times past hath not ben so few as .v. hundred as by experience in places not long days paste was almost found to true.