A07407:208
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.
❧ Some Antichrist therefore, like to him self must he stir up and ordain (as he knoweth what maketh for his purpose) making and constituting him as god in earth, lord over all the world fellow and checkmate with God, forgiver and holder of sins, having the keys of Heaven and of Hell, not being under any▪ but holding the heads of all princes under his girdle, crowned with the crowns not of glory (as he would have them betaken) but with the crown of the world of the flesh, and of the Devil, above all potentates in power, having his power in every king his dominion, more strong than the most natural and lawful kings them self, and for none other cause but to remove from the hearts of men this stumbling block the word of God by his power, threatening and cursing the row his most wicked ministers, which should be the upholders and defenders of this most holy and blessed word, putting into princes heads that it is not lawful: for the lay and common people, to meddle with the Gospels, with the secretes of God, to know the will of god, to know by whom they are created: by whom they do obtain salvation and remission of sins, declaring many more great inconveniences and hurts that ⟨image 94⟩will follow thereof if they be suffered to have it at liberty, ascribing and imputing to the knowledge and reading of the word of God, those things and vices which are clean contrary to the nature of the word of God, making the magistrates and rulers believe that it will cause sedition, tumults and insurrections in the common wealth, O most cruel sect of vipers, which doeth shut up the kingdom of Heaven from men, neither willing to enter in your selves, nor con tent that any else shall, most like unto ban dogs, which lye tied at the manger not feeding of the hay that therein is, nor yet suffering the pore Ox or Horse to eat and fed? of it to their sustenance. What thing doth teach peace? but the word of God. What preacheth tranquillity in fields, towns, cities: and realms, yea through all the world? but the word of God. What meaneth these words. Discite quia mitis et humilis sum. Learn of me, for I am meek, lowly and gentle.
❧ Some Antechrist therfore, lyke to him selfe muste he styrre vp and ordeyne (as he knowethe what makethe for his purpose) making and constituting hym as god in earth, lorde ouer al the worlde felowe and chekmate with God, forgyuer and holder of sinnes, hauing ye keies of Heuen and of Hell, nat beinge vnder any▪ but holding the heades of al princes vnder his gyrdle, crowned wt the crownꝭ nat of glory (as he wolde haue them betaken) but with the crown of the world of the flesshe, and of the Deuyl, aboue all potentates in power, hauing his power in euery kyng his dominiō, more strōge than the most natural and lawful kingꝭ them selfe, and for none other cause but to remoue frome the hertes of men thys stomblinge blocke the worde of God by his power, threatening and cursyng the rowe his most wicked ministers, which shulde be the vpholders and defenders of this most holy and blessed worde, puttynge into princes heades that it is nat lawful: for the lay and common people, to meddle with the Gospels, with the secretes of God, to knowe the wyl of god, to knowe by whom they are created: by whom they do obteyne saluation and remission of sinnes, declaring many more greate inconuenyences and hurtes that