A07407:26
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 where as the Philosophers and laws humane, do dispute and reason of this outward discipline, which is the covered face of Moses, they do not search how, or which way a man may be just, that is to say accepted be for God. Furthermore we may not compare, and set together, as of like estimation, the sentences and minds of the Philosophers with the holy learning and teachings of Paul. Let this carnal Justice ⟨image 12⟩have his place.1 That is to say, let the lewd wicked and carnal people be bridled and plucked in with this outward discipline. let the teachings of the Philosophers be in the midst of the great multitude of the people, let them behold the face of Moses covered not ascending up into the mount unto God Let Origenes and such as be of his sect continue still among the blind people,2 not beholding the clear and open face of Moses, teaching and preaching none other but a carnal outward and fleshly Justice. For as much then as the natural reason of man can not see by what means, nor how, we should be reputed just before God, the Gospel preacheth an other kind of Justice,3 not known to mans reason, but revealed and made open to the fathers, first by God him self, and afterward by his Prophets more and more declared, and last of all by Christ him self and his Apostles manifested to the whole world Therefore John said: God no man did ever see but only the Son of God which is in the bosom of the father, he hath declared him to us. As though he would say, this will of God that God would forgive freely, and give life everlasting for his sons sake, no creature, no re• son ⟨p. xii⟩humane could attain to understand and perceive, but only by his Son manifested and declared. Of the which most marvellous and excellent benefit, Paul preacheth, whose saying briefly in the declaration of the Epistle I intend to expound and declare, yea and Christ his self, as it becometh him, which is a cunning crafts master, in few words comprehending the whole sum and discipline of the Gospel, commanded his disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness of sin in his name.