A07407:45
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.
¶ 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.2 For God would that some knowledge should remain in man nature to know and perceive what is sin: beside that, at all times the voice of the law doeth rebuke sin what time it preacheth repentance. Which thing Paul well perceiving was induced to say, by the law is the knowledge of sin Nat meaning and speaking only of the ceremonies, but also of the moral ⟨p. xxii⟩laws, and of the commandments accusing alway at all times all manner of men. We may not reason of the divine law of God as we do when we do talk of a moral law, and of the manners of a civil life.
1¶ THE Lawe from the Gospell doeth dyffer no small thynge. For the lawe is a doctryne by the whiche we are taught and commaunded of God what maner of men we oughte to be, what thynges we are bounde to do and obserue, and what the contrarye. And albeit that the common weale of Moyses is vtterly extyncte and nowe nothynge at all, yet the moral lawe abideth and remaineth styl, beynge at all tymes one thynge that it was at the begynnyng. The knowlege wherof we are nat so sone borne, but we are endued with it.