A07407:39
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 without doubt this sentence is exclusive and barring of all our worthiness, when Paul sayeth By faith we are justified: that is to say not for our dignity and desert: so that who that will truly judge and deem on this thing, may easily perceive, that it is all one thing to say. By faith we are justified: by faith we are justified freely: and by only faith we are justified. Thus much have I spoken that the phrase and manner of speaking of these words might be perceived and weighed diligently. But how so ever we do use our speaking and words: let us take heed and beware, that the thing and matter it self be not confounded, and made dark: but that this sentence exclusive of all worthiness: may be kept in his right sense far from our free acceptation, ⟨p. xix⟩whereby we please God the father for Christ his sake. For that maketh the difference between the law and the Gospel as I have said. Therefore I have spoken of this word, freely, that the virtuous and Godly may consider,1 all merits to be taken and cast away. Nat to make us to be the more idle in well doing abstaining from good works. But to make the promise certain, which promise should be uncertain if it should depend on the condition of our merits, and to render to Christ the honour due only to him, beside that it maketh us see and understand, that all our deeds, be they never so glorious, are never able to attain to the perfectness of the law. For faith doeth spring forth of the word of God: that is from the Gospel:2 which Gospel is the promise: wherein the benefit of Christ is both promised to us and also exhibited. For the wit, and reason of man, by it self could never come to the knowledge of the remission of sin: if God had not opened his will in a certain word, or a certain promise to us.
❧ VVHERFORE without doubt thys sentence is exclusiue and barryng of all our worthynes, when Paul saieth By fayth we are iustified: that is to say nat for oure dignitie and deserte: so that who that wyll truly iudge and deme on thys thynge, maye easely perceyue, that it is all one thynge to say. By fayth we are iustified: by faythe we are iustified frelye: and by onely faythe we are iustified. Thus muche haue I spoken that the phrase and maner of speakynge of these wordes myghte be perceyued and weyed diligently. But howe so euer we do vse oure speakinge and wordes: lette vs take hede and beware, that the thing and matter it selfe be nat confounded, and made darke: but that thys sentence exclusyue of all worthynes: may be kept in hys ryght sence farre from our free acceptation,