A07407:206
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.
Yet must there follow an other cause why we know not the lord, and that truly is because we embrace not him with our arms in his word, because we do not make much of him in his word: because we kiss him not with the mouth of our heart earnestly and heartily in his most blessed word, and so to follow him in life with all pureness and godliness of living. What is the occasion of all ⟨image 93⟩these our spiritual infirmities, that we may learn and know the original cause and fountain, that hereafter we may be preserved from this most poison and pestiferous infection the better: being (as the proverb sayeth) once warned and so half warned.
Yet muste there folowe an other cause why we knowe nat the lorde, and that truly is bicause we embrace nat him with our armes in his word, bicause we do nat make muche of him in his worde: bicause we kisse him nat with the mouth of our herte earnestly and hartely in hys most blessed worde, and so to folow him in lyfe with al purenesse and godlynesse of liuinge. What is the occasion of all ⟨image 93⟩these our spiritual infyrmities, that we may lerne and know the original cause and fountayne, that hereafter we may be preserued from this most poyson and pestiferus infectiō the better: being (as the prouerbe sayeth) ons warned and so half warned.
☞ He that was sometime an Angel the father of pride, the old enemy of god and man Satan, the child of everlasting wrath and damnation: he (I say) which made to our saviour many great promises and gay, if the lord would have fallen down and worshipped him, of whom Satan knew well his head should be broken: he worketh all this mischief, all our sorrows, he envieth us to be the children of God, he would fain have us to be as he is in extreme misery: he plucketh from us the lively and most wholesome food of the soul: he knoweth that as our bodies being destitute of bodily sustenance can not chose but dye, so the body of the soul, being without the heavenly and most comfortable food of the word of God of pure necessity must perish. As Christ the right schoolmaster of health answered. Bread is not only. &c. This is our adversary well ware of: he knoweth hꝭ power very weak and feeble where the word of God is in place.