A07407:51
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.
Moreover for as much as a certain knowledge of the law is natural to us, yea from our first birth and nativity, our own minds and conscience accuseth sin in us,1 thinking and be leaving no thing else, but that God will punish, and also cast forth of his sight those men which be unjust and sinners. This is the judgement which the law doeth give, being both a just and a right judgement according to the mind of the law. Against the which heavy sentence of the law: in the time of knowledgynge thy sin and repentance ⟨image 25⟩thou must object again and lay for thee, the most liberal and free promise of mercy, which ought to be preferred before the law. As by example: when Adam after his offence,2 was accused, he could think none other thing in him self but that which was the law. that he should perish, because he obeyed not the Lord. But straight way the Lord: (notwithstanding that he had made him subject for his disobedience unto the death of the body) which was before immortal: and to other miserable calamities,3 yet God gave to him a comfortable voice promising deliverance from sin and death, and the restoring again of mankind, saying that the seed of a woman should break the head of the Serpent. The which voice spoken and declared by God: straight way the son of God moving and stirring the heart of Adam: did pour into him a new life and light. At that time the Son of God was constituted and ordained to be a keeper, a governor, and a saviour of the church. Then began the Son of God to give battle to the Devil: That likewise as the Devil most cruelly doth rage over all mankind in the despite and hatred of God, to deface and put out of all remembrance his ⟨p. xxv⟩most holy and blessed church, fastening his most venomous teeth in our hells and flesh. So on that other side, the Son of God is strong and mighty in them which believeth, treading down under his feet the fury of the Devil, restoring and delivering the faithful from the tyranny of his enemy. The world hath not the grace to consider and see this battle, but the great falls of many with the most heavy and tragical calamities and miseries and again afterward, the most glorious and triumphant deliverance (example of Dauyd and of many other) do manifestly declare and show what manner a kind of fight and battle this is.