A07407:41
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.
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,3 of those which be noble men, governing and prospering their affairs in especially at ou• all other, all other kind of men neglected and not regarded. And this is the mind of some men concerning predestination (as they call it) which foolish and weak opinion ⟨p. xx⟩of man the heavenly voice of God reprehendeth, In this point differeth the Gospel from the opinions of the Philosophers, and from the law,4 declaring to us after an other manner of fashion: the will of God, than the law doeth set forth to us, showing and teaching that God willingly doeth receive to him, yea those which be unworthy, offering to all men his spirit with this condition, that they do believe steadfastly in the promise.
1¶ FYRST they doubt whether that God wyll receyue to hys mercye those whiche be vnworthy,2 or nay. On that other syde in case that they be worthye, they do mystruste and thynke, that God hathe chosen certayne specyall freendes whome he fauoureth aboue other wyllyng to bestowe hys benefytes on them. They do feare also: lest that those benefytes do nat perteyne to them, doubting that they be nat of the number of the elected. And thus the reason of man hangethe as it were in a payre of balaunce, wauerynge hyther and thither in doubt fulnesse and mystrust of the wil of God. For the philosophers be of that opinion that God doth fauour and loue a few in nōbre,