A07407:73
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.
❧ LIKEWISE as these words following are to be taken respectively. The confidence of his treasure, maketh the rich man in time of de•th & scarcity to be of a quiet mind, and stomach, that is to say. Through his treasure the rich man is quiet. So when we say that by faith we are justified, straight way thou doest remember the correlative, being through mercy for Christ sake promised we are made just. I remember that I have been sometime demanded and asked this question: Wherefore we must say. By faith we are made just, if we will that man shall be just by the mercy promised for Christ. Whereto I answer saying, that these words are correlative that one having respect to that other. By faith we are just, and by mercy we are just. There must needs be mention made of faith, for as much as by some motion and mean we must receive this gift of mercy applying it to our commodities. And when we do ⟨image 36⟩speak of faith, our mind doeth look straight way on Christ, beholding the mercy which is freely promised for him, being thoroughly persuaded that we are made just, not for our own virtues and deeds: but for some thing else which is without us and nothing of our self: that is for Christ, the mediator, which sitteth on the right hand of the father calling and entreating for us. This faith being in our minds is not a fantasy or an idle cogitation, but it is a thing which striveth and wrestleth with the terrors and torments of our conscience, with sin, with death, and with the Devil, which by huge and wondrous crafts doeth besiege our sick minds: to drive them if he might into the contempt of God, which contempt, utter and most to be wailed, desperation doth follow. As Cain, Saul, Judas, with a great many mo, which reckoning them selves abject from God: did incontinent lye with all furious and outrageous madness begin to hate and despise God.
❧ LYKEVVISE as these wordes folowinge are to be taken respectiuely. The confidence of his treasure, maketh the ryche man in tyme of de•th & scarsty to be of a quyet mynd, and stomake, that is to say. Thorow his treasure the riche man is quyet. So when we saye that by faythe we are iustified, streyghte waye thou doeste remembre the correllatyue, beynge thorowe mercy for Christ sake promysed we are made iust. I remembre that I haue bene sometyme demaunded and asked thys question: Wherfore we must say. By faythe we are made iust, yf we wyl that man shalbe iust by the mercye promised for Chryst. Wherto I answere sayinge, that these wordes ar correllatiue that one hauynge respecte to that other. By faythe we are iust, and by mercy we are iust. There must nedes be mention made of faythe, for as much as by some motion and meane we muste receyue thys gyft of mercy applienge it to oure commodities. And when we do