A07407:203
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.
Thou shalt conceive. &c. she made no more a do but yielding herself up clean, as one having no power of her self, answered these words, here I am the handmaid of the lord, let the lord do with me as it shall please him. This word whereto Mary gave credit and belief did get her with child, this word was made flesh this word came into the world naturally (sin excepted). To this word before any thing was, nothing did give place, to be made some thing, and of nothing ⟨image 90⟩[…] ⟨p. lxxxx⟩[…] ⟨image 91⟩all thing. To this word if Adam had given credit and belief: by the which word he was made and created, he had not fallen, nor many more after him This word the holy fathers from Adam to Moses had not written, but declared and pronounced by the mouth of God whereby they knew God, and believed God to be God, and the Messiah to come To this word Moses gave credit, which was given to him in the mount in the tables of stone, written with the finger of God, that he should give them to the people, that they might be his people, a people that should fear and love the lord. This word Moses did write in the book called the Deuteronomium. This word the lord commanded to be in the hands of his people, and never to be left out of their hands, to be alway with them in all places, at all times, at their eating and drinking: yea and at their sleeping, having it for a pillow to lay their heads on, and in their journeys to be their companion to comfort them to be their staff to stay them and hold them up. And finally in all their pastimes, to be their rejoice & delight. This word was hard of the people in the mount, whereby they knew God, by the which he would be known, and not by any out ⟨p. lxxxx⟩ward vision, because partly our flesh and corrupt carnal nature can not arise up into the mount to behold the clear glistering brightness of his Godhead, and partly because they should not delude deceive, and blind them selves with none outward appearance and similitude of things: to avoid the great inconvenience of Idolatry, to be committed under any spiritual or godly colour.
Thou shalt conceyue. &c. she made no more a do but yeldinge herselfe vp cleane, as one hauing no power of her selfe, answered these wordes, here I am the handmayde of the lorde, let the lorde do with me as it shal please him. This worde whereto Mary gaue credit and belefe did get her with chylde, this word was made flessh this worde came into the worlde naturally (sinne excepted). To this worde before any thinge was, nothinge did gyue place, to be made some thing, and of nothing