A07407:35
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.
¶ Wherefore the contrary part rehearsing in their daily devotion and prayers this article of our belief (I do believe the remission of sin) doeth show and declare: how their own selves doeth not consent and allow that thing which they do pronounce and speak with their own tongues in their prayers. In that they command to doubt of the remission of sin, their own ⟨image 17⟩lips declaring the contrary: that we should not doubt but that we have remission of our sin. I do know divers men, which by the comfort only, which they have received of this article contained in our Creed, have clean caste away the most damnable doctrine of the Monkish and Popish sort, concerning dubitation, and merits, committing them self all together to the comfortable promise of Christ our most merciful Lord.
¶ Wherfore the contrary parte rehersynge in their dayly deuotyon and prayers thys artycle of oure belefe (I do beleue the remission of sinne) doeth shewe and declare: howe theyr owne selfes doeth nat consent and allowe that thing whiche they do pronounce and speake with theyr owne tonges in theyr prayers. In that they commaunde to doubte of the remission of sinne, theyr owne ⟨image 17⟩lyppes declaringe the contrary: that we shulde nat doubt but that we haue remission of oure sinne. I do knowe diuers men, whiche by the comfort only, which they haue receyued of thys artycle conteyned in our Crede, haue clene caste away the mooste dampnable doctryne of the Monkyshe and Popyshe sort, concernynge dubytation, and merites, committynge them selfe all togither to the comfortable promise of Chryste oure moost mercyfull Lorde.
¶ But for what cause I pray you, is thꝭ word freely which is called in latin gratis,1 only added by Paul, & not these words also (by our works) but for Christ his sake. About the which words, not only the consciences of men, but also the Prophets and Apostles have spoken largely. It doeth comprehend in it self .ii. things most highly to be noted. It doeth exclude all meriting of our selves and our own deservings, setting as it were before our eyes the deservings and merits of Christ. In the which place specially above all other is to be observed and marked the dreadful anger and wrath of God against sin,