A07407:196
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.
¶ Such is the pity we have of our christian brethren, so little is the fear and love of God among us, ye which professeth the Gospel (which thing maketh well for the Papists to the slander of the word of God). As for the office of a judge,1 what man can say but it is most justly executed, upright without partiality, ⟨p. lxxxv⟩not favouring of one man more than an other, not prolonging of suits, in the favour of the rich, to the utter undoing of the pore, not taking of gifts, worthy to be compared to the court of the Areopagites. which to avoid partiality, judged all causes by night darkling. If it be any otherwise than I have declared, it is to be ascribed and imputed to none other thing more, nay to nothing so much as to that, they be not in fear of the judgement of the lord, which doth command with these words. Judge and minister right judgement you sons of men. There is no man that can find fault with those kind of men, which are occupiers,2 living by their laborious venture and travail, so upright is their dealing, so just, so indifferent, that almost no faith, no truth, no trust, no confidence is to be given to their oath, much less to their word and bare promise,3 What These would steal and rob to be hanged on a gallow, if he were touched with the fear and love of the lord.4 Who would be so stony hearted to quell and slay his brother, for whom Christ did suffer and shed his blood?5 What man would be an adulterer, a fornicator, a committer of rapt: if he had but one sparkle of the fear and love of God, knowing ⟨image 86⟩that they which do so shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven, judged by sentence definitive, without help of appellation to everlasting sorrows, except there be in this life or they depart, a true and perfect repentance, with trust in the mercy promised for Christ sake.