A07407:40
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.
¶ WE must also be certainly assured that this promised of the Gospel is universal:1 wherefore it is most necessary ⟨image 20⟩of all thing that good and Godly men be informed thereof and taught that it is so: because, that feeble and fearful minds, and weak consciences, be alway with these .ii. questions cumbered, of worthiness, and of election, as by example.
¶ VVE muste also be certaynlye assured that thys promysed of the Gospell is vniuersal:1 wherfore it is most necessary ⟨image 20⟩of all thynge that good and Godly men be infourmed therof and taught that it is so: bycause, that feble and fearefull myndes, and weake consciences, be alway with these .ii. questyons combered, of worthynesse, and of election, as by example.
- 1The promise of the Gospel to universal•.The promyse of the Gospell to vniuersal•.
1¶ FIRST they doubt whether that God will receive to his mercy those which be unworthy,2 or nay. On that other side in case that they be worthy, they do mistrust and think, that God hath chosen certain special friends whom he favoureth above other willing to bestow his benefits on them. They do fear also: lest that those benefits do not pertain to them, doubting that they be not of the number of the elected. And thus the reason of man hangeth as it were in a pair of balance, wavering hither and thither in doubt fullness and mistrust of the will of God. For the philosophers be of that opinion that God doth favour and love a few in number,