A07407:214
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.
And yet for all that they have the word of God with them, they be also of the spirituality. Wherein they do make no leasing. For there is .ii. kinds of spiritualities: that one is of God, that other is of the Devil. The Devil is a most damnable spirit, working spiritually, by his spiritual members. The Devil also hath his church. the Devil hath his spiritual ministers as well as God, the Devil hath his commandments as well as God and this is the principal and first of his commandments, not to suffer the word of God to reign in the hearts of men.
And yet for all that they haue the worde of God with them, they be also of the spiritualtie. Wherein they do make no leasinge. For there is .ii. kindes of spiritualtyes: that one is of God, that other is of the Deuyl. The Deuyl is a most dampnable spirite, working spiritually, by his spiritual members. The Deuyl also hath his church. the Deuyl hath his spiritual ministers as wel as God, the Deuyll hathe his commaundementes as well as God and this is the principal and fyrst of his commaundementes, nat to suffer ye word of God to reygne in the hertes of men.
¶ What token can you have more evident, more plain to spy and know a bishop, an Archdeacon, a Dean, a Person a curate of his church, than when you do ⟨image 98⟩here him preach & teach the commandment of his master the Devil, yea the word of God is not to be had in the mother tongue, is not to be common among all men as though the benefits of Christ pertained but to a few in number, and not in generally to all men. Such persons when you do hear on this manner teaching, straight way mark him up to be of Satan's church, and one of his chaplains be he Archbishop, or Bishop, Suffragan or Archdeacon, Dean, Person, or pore Cucate. We have a saying in our mother tong. Thou shalt never make me believe that thou lovest me, when thou doest take my meat from me. It is in deed a token of very small love. Howe little then are they our friends, nay how muche de they the enemies both of God & man, which do rob our souls, bought with so dear a price, taking the word of God from the people, which is the right to de of the soul, and the only preserve from all corruption,