A07407:199
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.
☞ What caused cursed Cain to slay so cruelly,1 and unnaturally his own brother? What caused Pharaoh to persecute the children of Israel.2 What made king Dauyd to commit abominable adultery, not contented with one mischievous deed, but also to join and add bloody murder, to stinking adultery, in slaying the husband of the woman, with the most lamentable destruction of many mo.3 What caused Judas to be a traitor to his most loving master. To be truly certayned and assured, there was nothing else in the cause, but the want of the fear and of the love of the lord, O cruel and damnable mischief coming from the bottomless pit of ⟨image 87⟩Hell. What remedy and salve is to be found for this foul sore? what is the cause that it reigneth so much among us christians every where, that almost no fear nor love of the lord, is found in any place nay rather open contempt and blasphemy and dishonour to his most blessed and holy name? what man can express the cause thereof: that this plague more to be feared than any pestilence, hath so infected the air through all the world, that no man high nor low: what state, degree or dignity so ever he be, hath escaped it.4 The foul botches and sores of Job did never stink so sore to the nose of man, as thꝭ maketh us to be abhorred of god. stopping his heavenly nose, and turning his merciful visage from us. Among our earthly physicians which do take cure of bodily diseases only (which bodies being never so well healed, shall at the last go to corruption) the cause of the disease and sickness known (being the chief point of their science) the part which is sick is half cured and holpen already. For likewise as in ministration of medicines, the cause of the bodily infirmity not known perfectly, they do kill, slay, and murder, not with knife, but with poison, the party which seeketh after help and remedy. So the cause and ⟨p. lxxxvii⟩rote of the sickness perceived, the medication is made thereafter, to the help and comfort of him that complained and lamented his grief and infirmity. Even so again, of our spiritual infirmities and sickness (which killeth not the body, yea oftentimes doth send both body and soul to the whirlpool of hell (paste remedy and help if he cometh ones into that place,) speaking our Heavenly master and doctor, and spiritual physician Christ (which knoweth all our waters a little better than we do our selves):