A07407:198
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.
1¶ Howe great an evil this is, how huge and foul, a monster of how innumerable calamities and sorrows which we have and do sustain, this is a most wicked mother: what thing can better set forth or paint, as it were in a table or in a glass before your eyes more evidently, more lively than the great fall of Adam, being for lack of the fear, and of the love of the lord, which brought us into thraldom, bondage, and captivity of the Devil. For if he had loved ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩him for his benefits, because he was created, by him a heavenly creature like unto his own image, or if he had feared him, for fear to displease him, whom he found so good a lord, or for fear of breaking of his commandment, as of his head and master (for he that is commanded, is under him that doeth command) he would not have transgressed, whose transgression is our transgression, whose fall is our fall. Our sinful life and corrupt manners, being the relics, dregs, and remnant of his old sore.2
1¶ Howe great an euyll this is, howe huge and foule, a monster of howe innumerable calamities and sorowes which we haue and do susteyne, this is a moste wicked mother: what thinge can better set forth or paynt, as it were in a table or in a glasse before your eyes more euidently, more lyuely than the great fall of Adam, beinge for lacke of the feare, and of the loue of the lorde, which broughte vs into thraldome, bondage, and captiuitie of the Deuyl. For if he had loued ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩him for his benefites, bicause he was created, by him a heauenly creature like vnto his owne image, or if he had feared him, for feare to displease him, whom he found so good a lord, or for feare of breaking of his commaundement, as of hys heade and mayster (for he that is commaunded, is vnder him that doeth commaunde) he wold nat haue transgressed, whose transgression is our transgression, whose fall is our fall. Oure sinfull lyfe and corrupt maners, beinge the relyques, dregges, and remenaunte of hys olde sore.2
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