A07407:210
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 place of the Gospels and Pystles is not every where full of all manner of obedience. Of the Son to the father: the servant to the master, with like exhortations unto the masters & fathers towards their servants and children. This gear is far from rebelling, from seditions, from risings and insurrections. Yet these hell hounds be not a shamed, to report, belie, and slander most shamefully the holy word of God, bearing most false witness against it, for to banish it, to burn it, to hang it out of the way, that their master Satan may ⟨image 95⟩have full sway and rule in the heart of man which is the seat, house and temple of God. Such as these be, are first traitors to God, and after to their princes and kings. For it standeth not with reason nay it is unpossible, that ye or they should love their king heartily, which loveth not God, which taketh part with Antichrist. They their own selves be those persons which would have seditions with risings and insurrections of the commons and other heads, to the maintaining of the kingdom of Satan. For I doubt not to abide by it, that where the word of God is, there can be no such disobedience, no nor mistrust of subjects. But where the word of god is not, there look for no manner of goodness, no kind of virtue, none obedience or love, but for fear not from the heart, but from the teach forward, laughing as the Hare, which ham geth on the saddle bow, among them is the Devil with all his whole band and rabble. Example we had not many years past when Satan his minister Antichrist, with his retinue of Monks Fryers, and other of his chaplains had thought to have stroke a great stroke in this realm to the utter undoing of all the whole commonalty of the said realm, if the most mighty hand of the lord had ⟨p. lxxxxiiii⟩not turned all their cogitations upon their own necks. I would they should answer me whether the word of God was the cause of the insurrection in the north yea or nay. If they be choked with this demand, I will go a little more near unto them, to see if they can scape any way, by any honest answer and excuse but that they shall be found loud and shameful liars against god, Which part was the first movers and stirrers of thꝭ most lamentable insurrection (if the lord had not set his foot in) the laity or the spirituality of the north parts.
¶ What place of the Gospels and Pystles is nat euery where full of al maner of obedience. Of the sonne to the father: the seruant to the mayster, with lyke exhortations vnto the maysters & fathers towardes theyr seruantes and chyldren. This geare is farre from rebelling, frō seditions, from risinges and insurrections. Yet these hell houndes be nat a shamed, to report, belye, and sclaunder most shamefully the holy worde of God, bearing most false witnes agaynst it, for to banyshe it, to burne it, to hange it out of the way, that theyr mayster Sathan may