A07407:44
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.
Where fore this sentence of Paul is to be received of all men, being not entangled with foolish and idle questions, but plain, open, and agreeable to all the preachings and teachings of the prophets and Gospels, giving us knowledge of great and weighty matters, which good and Godly men in this life by experience do find true. The knowledge whereof is so necessary to the church, ⟨image 22⟩that nothing is more.
Where fore thys sentence of Paull is to be receyued of al men, beynge nat entangled with foolysshe and ydle questions, but playne, open, and agreable to al the preachynges and techinges of the prophetes and Gospels, gyuynge vs knowledge of greate and weyghtye matters, whiche good and Godly men in this lyfe by experience do fynde true. The knowledge whereof is so necessarye to the churche, ⟨image 22⟩that nothynge is more.
¶ NOW therefore I intend, with as few words as the matter will give me leave, to make plain and declare unto you, what these vocables and terms following do signify. The law, Gospel. Sin, Justification, Grace, and Faith.
¶ NOVVE therfore I entende, with as fewe wordes as the matter wyl giue me leue, to make playne and declare vnto you, what these vocables and termes folowynge doo signifie. The lawe, Gospell. Synne, Iustification, Grace, and Faythe.
1¶ THE Law from the Gospel doeth differ no small thing. For the law is a doctrine by the which we are taught and commanded of God what manner of men we ought to be, what things we are bound to do and observe, and what the contrary. And albeit that the common weal of Moses is utterly extinct and now nothing at all, yet the moral law abideth and remaineth still, being at all times one thing that it was at the beginning. The knowledge whereof we are not so soon borne, but we are endued with it.