A07407:27
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 so the mind and conscience of man, recognising and knowlegynge of old his sin, and for that, the dreadful anger and wrath of God,1 then is moved and stirred with no counterfeit and feigned fear, but with most heavy tears and sorrows (that he quaketh again) which with heavy and deep sighs, being ones perceived and felt, the Gospel doeth lay and set before him that thing which is full of all comfort uttering and pronouncing ⟨image 13⟩that voice which is proper only to the Gospel, which is the promise of Christ his benefit, declaring the Son of God to be the mediator, after that manner that John did set him forth and described him, saying. Behold and see the Lamb of God, him I say which taketh away the sin of the world. He commandeth you to be certainly assured and persuaded that for this mediator his sake, which is the Son of God our Lord Jesus Christ we do obtain remission of our since: being imputed just not for any of our works or merits but freely by faith, that is to say, when we do believe without any wavering that we do obtain those great benefits for Christ his sake,2 when we do lift up our selves standing upright, being underset with this faith, looking on no thing else but on Christ, then do we obtain remission of our sins, and are reputed just, that is to say. God for his mercy sake doeth accept us, and sendeth into us the holy Ghost making us the sons of God, and heirs of life everlasting. Bearing thereto witness John. 1. cap. He gave to them the pour to be made the sons of God, to them I say which do believe in his name. These thing ⟨p. xiii⟩are plain and easy to be thoroughly perceived, and most fittest for the use of our consciences,3 as by divers examples may appear. Dauyd being a king for his abominable Adultery committed and murder, being accused of the Prophet: did feel in him self so great torment and fear, that he was not able to stand under it, but was borne down to the ground, the torments of his conscience were so heavy, whom afterward the Prophet comforting, with this voice of absolution, did lift him up as it were taking and lifting him from the ground by the hand, said.