A07407:75
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.
The which faith must be kindled in us with the true knowledge of God, which faith I say can not be kept and defended without great battle and fight.
The which fayth must be kyndled in vs with ye true knowlege of God, whiche faythe I saye can nat be kept and defended withoute greate battayle and fyght.
❧ NOW will I declare to you bringing forth the testimony of the ⟨p. xxxvii⟩Scriptures, testifying and teaching us that faith doeth not signify only the knowledge of Christ historically, but also a sure and steadfast confidence of mercy, which doeth strive continually against desperation and contempt of God.1 Paul to the Romans the .iiii. cap. doeth confer together the promise and faith as correlatives, that one responding to that other, teaching that the promise of necessity must be received by faith. Ergo, Faith doth signify a confidence which dependeth only on the mercy of God. The which testimony is so clear and plain, that the Devil of Hell can not withstand it. Therefore (sayeth he) by faith and through grace and favour that the promise may be certain, that is: I do require faith where by the promise of our reconciliation may dereceyued.2 To the Ephesians .iii cap. By whom we have boldness and courage with free entrance by the confidence, which is by faith in him. What testimony can a man have more excellent I have not now to do with jesters and railers, but with virtuous and gentle readers, whom I do exhort and desire for the very glory of Christ, that they would weigh diligently the testimonies and witnessings of the Scripture. ⟨image 38⟩Paul in this place doeth excellently declare the nature of faith with .iii. goodly vocables. By faith (he sayeth) that we have boldness, we have entrance, we have confidence. The which vocables do not pertain to the historical knowledge, which should discomfort us if we should think, that then we shall come to Christ, when we shall be found worthy. It followeth that faith is to be understanded, the trust of mercy, though Cocleus would burst for anger, with all his cavillations. If faith (sayeth he) and confidence, or trust in mercy be all one, wherefore should Melanchthon join unto faith, confidence or trust of mercy, as effects of faith. Wisely forsooth and full of lively wit. As though that one motion of the heart can not be expressed and declared with sundry and divers vocables. And for as much as faith is a motion of the heart, whereby we have entrance to the Lord, it can not be taken only for the historical knowledge of Christ, which as I have said would rather discomfort the minds and consciences of men which are weak, then to comfort them and make them strong, as to the Romans .v.