A07407:38
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.
¶ ALSO when Paul (in reasoning this matter) doeth demand whether by faith or by works we should be justified:1 he doeth mean by that word faith: the perfect trust in the mercy promised for Christ sake: the which trust of mercy he doeth lay against and as, clean contrary unto our worthiness. ⟨image 19⟩As though he would say to the these words following. Howe doest thou think that thy sins are forgiven thee, and that thou art made the child of God, for the dignity and worthiness of thine own works virtues & other good qualities, or else by the most tender mercy of God only for Christ sake. Therefore truly he doeth exclude the dignity of our works, saying, that by faith we are justified.
¶ ALSO when Paull (in reasonyng thys matter) doethe demaunde whether by faythe or by workes we shulde be iustified:1 he doethe meane by that worde faythe: the perfect trust in the mercy promysed for Chryste sake: the which truste of mercy he doeth laye agaynste and as, cleane contrary vnto our worthynesse. ⟨image 19⟩As thoughe he wolde saye to the these wordes folowynge. Howe doeste thou thinke that thy sinnes are forgiuen the, and that thou arte made the chylde of God, for the dignitie and worthynesse of thyne owne workes vertues & other good qualities, or els by the moost tender mercy of God only for Christ sake. Therefore trulye he doethe exclude the dignitie of our workes, sayinge, that by faythe we are iustified.
- 1The mercy of God and our worthiness are contrary.The mercy of God and our wo•thynesse are contrary.