A07407:200
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.
to whom all our diseases and maladies are thoroughly known, which searcheth with the instrument of his spirit, yea very reins of our backs, yea the deepest thoughts and cogitations of our hearts declared the cause, the very principal cause, and cause efficient of all our maladies: with these words. Quia non cognoverunt me neque patrem meum: because they knew neither me nor yet my father It followeth therefore that if we know him and his father, we would both love and fear both him and his father. And contrary wise because we know neither we love and fear neither: nay we hate and persecute both. The ignorance then of God, being the cause that we be void of all fear and love of the lord: what ⟨image 88⟩marvel is it, if we do run headlong into all kind of mischief, if we set nought neither by God nor by the world if we regard not his precept? his fruit full teachings and most beneficial promises? Nay truly Satan the father of ignorance, is not so contented to le• his disciples rest, at that point of little regarding of the lord his goodness, but he doth stir them to high treason against his majesty, to open contempt and manifest blasphemy, to the defiance of his godhead, proclaiming war against his infinite power, with trumpets and heralds of arms, of his own begetting and sending, dishonouring him, minishing of his godly and imperial titles, those I say which do belong of right, by his own purchase and great conquest, to the heavenly crown, I do mean the titles of our creation, of our redemption, of our justification, and free acceptation (they giving honour unto the creatures, in the stead of the creator) with like detestable, most damnable, and heretical persuasion and opinion, in ascribing part of our salvation, yea sometime altogether to our own (worthy) deservings and merits, the praise whereof he his own self like a most valiant captain with no feigned sweat of his own body ⟨p. lxxxviii⟩with no counterfeited blood, with no mocking death (for he was a right natural man) and no man did ever offer so much as he) did obtain and win.
to whom al our diseases and maladies are thorowly knowen, which sercheth with ye instrument of his spirite, ye very reynes of our backes, ye the depest thoughtes and cogitations of our hertꝭ declared the cause, the very principall cause, and cause efficient of all our malydes: with these wordes. Quia non cognouerunt me neque patrem meum: bicause they knew neyther me nor yet my father It foloweth therfore that if we knowe him and his father, we wolde both loue and feare both him and his father. And contrary wise bicause we know neither we loue and feare neyther: nay we hate and persecute both. The ignorance then of God, being the cause that we be voide of all feare and loue of the lorde: what