A07407:216
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.
¶ This great enormity and abuse, or rather the great slander of souls, the king his excellent majesty, which late reigned of most godly and happy memory perceiving (being taught from god above): What a sort of rebellious conspirators, of god his enemies Antichrists ⟨p. lxxxxvi⟩disciples and ministers, with the name and most falsely usurped power of Antichrist him self: did his grace, (nay god in him, for it passed mans power) as it were in a moment of time to be compared to so great an act, sweep away and shake clean forth of his realm and dominion. Howe many of them did rather chose to be hanged, drawn and quartered quick, then (forsaking the common tyrant of all the wide world) to eleve unto their most natural & loving king. What thing was thought among them to dear, for that bloodsucker and soul killer? and with their own king would scant find in their heart to part with a good will with the paring of their nails: if they thought it might have done him any good in prevailing against his enemies. Their abomination and deceitfulness perceived: his grace commanded the blessed word of god to be set at large for all men, not without great struggling and resistance of the seed of Antichrist: how hath this word sense that time ben tossed from post to pillar, from the west end of the church, to the east, from the north to the south, from the body of the church, to the query, and at the last was glad to skip forth of the church •ore, or to be hid in the vestry ⟨image 99⟩for fear of tearing all to pieces or burning What grievous complaints hath been made against it, how the word of god hath let god his service to be song, in a tong, that neither the singers nor the hearers understood or were the better for. I know a certain cathedral church in England, of no small rents and possessions, replenished and adorned with all kind of goodly ornaments, lacking neither popping nor singing, a temple worthy to be (as it is) the seat of a Bishop, called saint Augustins of Bristow in the which for the space of .ix. months after they had express commandment by the kings majesty, which is in glory a man might have seen Paul's steeple stand upon the high altar, as soon as the bible in the church, or any part there of.
¶ This great enormitie and abuse, or rather the great sclaunder of soules, the kinge his excellent maiestie, which late reygned of moste godly and happy memory perceyuyng (beinge taught frome god aboue): What a sorte of rebellious conspiratours, of god his enemyes Antechristes