The justification of man by faith onlyThe iustification of man by faith only

To be short what this word grace after the Hebrew phrase doeth signify all learned men doeth know. Which manner of speaking observed it is easy to know the signification of the vocable. There is no man also so ignorant and blind, but that knoweth that Paul for none other cause did inculcate and beat into our heads this vocable Grace, than that we should be surely persuaded that we are acceptable to God for Christ sake, and not for our own virtues. Which sense and meaning, by their dirty glosses and wrastynges, is clean inverted, teaching that we are justified by grace, that is to say, by our own virtues. It is also to be noted that in this word Grace doeth lye hid a particle exclusive, which as I have said must be diligently observed. For these words gratis propter Chriust, that is freely for Christ, doeth make the difference between the law and the Gospel. And albeit that I do speak thus much of this word exclusive, I do not mean that repentance for our sins ⟨p. xxxii⟩with other virtues should be excluded, but only the condition of the dignity and worthiness of our merits, that the fearful conscience may have a firm and strong comfort in Christ. For all our promises of remission of sin &c. without we do add and include this word freely, they be unsavoury and nothing pleasant. All men which do make their invocation and call on the name of God shall be saved. To the which words, if I should join these words (if they be worthy) their minds should be thereat astonied and made affrayed. Wherefore the Gospel doeth cry out aloud this word, freely,¹ that thou mayest call on him, yea though thou art unworthy. For through Christ all they which call on the Lord shall be saved. More over the psalmist sayeth. With the lord is mercy. If I should say toward them which be worthy: in what case would the pore conscience stand: it would run away for fear if it could tell whither. Finally the Gospel willeth that by thꝭ word Grace, should be understand the free mercy of God promised for Christ. As though he would say, fly not away, but draw near unto the Lord, and receive with faith the gift offered unto thee. For God will freely for Christ forgive ⟨image 33⟩us, which decree is certain and immutable: if there be any which do doubt in that, what soever they be:

To be short what this word grace after the Hebrewe phrase doeth signify al learned men doeth know. Which maner of speakynge obserued it is easye to knowe the signification of the vocable. There is no man also so ignoraunt and blinde, but that knoweth that Paul for none other cause dyd incolcate and beat into oure heades this vocable Grace, than that we shulde be surelye perswaded that we are acceptable to God for Christ sake, and nat for oure owne vertues. Whiche sence and meanynge, by theyr durty gloses and wrastynges, is cleane inuerted, teachynge that we are iustified by grace, that is to say, by our own vertues. It is also to be noted that in thys word Grace doethe lye hydde a partycull exclusyue, whiche as I haue sayde muste be diligently obserued. For these wordes gratis propter Chriust, that is frely for Christe, doeth make the difference betwene the lawe and the Gospell. And albeit that I do speake thus muche of thys worde exclusiue, I do nat meane that repentaunce for our sinnes