A07407:79
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.
contraries one against an other saying. He doubted not on mistrust, or else, he was not feeble in faith: where he speaketh of faith, which wrestleth with dubitation or mistrust in ceceyuynge of the promise. The seventh testimony. Mark the .ix. chap. I do believe Lord:1 help thou mine unbelief. In the which place the Evangelist speaketh not of the historical knowledge, but of the perfect and sure confidence and trust, which doeth ask, call, look, and hope steadfastly after the benefits of Christ. As the history of the woman of Canaan Matthew .xv.2 cap. which being put twice from Christ: yea and with rebuke: did not for all that cease to call and make her petition with a marvellous discrete wisdom and soberness, refuting the ⟨image 40⟩saying of Christ, confessing her self to be in deed unworthy of the benefits of Christ: yet for the goodness of the lord she trusted steadfastly after his benefit. The faith of the which Ethnic woman: Christ with his own mouth did extol, praise, and commend highly, an swearing to her O woman thy faith is great, so be it to thee as thou doest desire Wherefore should we not only in thꝭ place: but in many other such like histories of the Gospel not doubt, but be certainly persuaded that faith doeth signify a confidence which both doeth ask and also trusteth after the benefits of Christ. Which faith, sith that it ought to shine and be as most principal in all our invocations and prayers: it is necessary that all men be instructed the right way of it. But contrary wise the enemies of God's word biddeth us to look on the life of Christ: they counsel us to doubt & to be in mistrust, whether god will be merciful unto us, and here out petitions yea or nay. The which doctrine is clean contrary and repugnant unto this most godly example of the woman of Canaan, and such other like, utterly abolishing the true worshipping and right invocation of god.3 The description of Faith to the Hebrews .xi. capi. ⟨p. xl⟩doth teach us that Faith doth signify a confidence and trust, with these words. Faith is a certain expectation of things looked and trusted after. This is an exposition of this word faith after the bare grammar rule, as all learned men doeth know. If it be an expectation: then it is a true confidence, or trust of a promise to be performed. Also,