A07407:85
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.
then he believed that through the favour and mercy promised of God he should obtain remission of sins and to have God a merciful defender and saviour. By that means was Abraham pronounced just by Faith, that is by the confidence and trust in the mercy of God, although he perceived his nature, to be corrupt, weak, naughty, and vicious. Faith also doeth not only pertain to remission of sin, and free acceptation of God: but also sometime it hath his outward objects, being about extern things.1 As was the Faith of Dauyd about the fight and battle with Goliath. The which examples do serve also for this our purpose. For this Faith which looketh after corporal aid, must needs be after that other Faith, which goeth before, which receiveth remission of sin. For the mind of man: can not be persuaded in him self ⟨image 43⟩that he shall obtain help and succour of God, before he be surely certayned that God is and will be merciful to him. The which rule doth show and declare that Paul doeth allege the testimonies and scriptures of Faith aright, giving us instruction, how we shall behave our selves in our invocation and prayer.
then he beleued that thorowe the fauour and mercy promised of God he shuld obteine remissiō of sinnes and to haue God a mercyfull defender and sauyour. By that meanes was Abraham pronounced iust by Faythe, that is by the confydence and trust in the mercye of God, althoughe he perceyued hys nature, to be corrupt, weake, noughtye, and vicious. Fayth also doeth nat onely pertayne to remission of sinne, and free acceptation of God: but also sometyme it hathe his outwarde obiectes, beynge about externe thinges.1 As was the Faith of Dauyd about the fyghte and battayle with Golyathe. The whiche examples do serue also for thys our purpose. For thys Fayth whiche lokethe after corporall ayde, must nedes be after that other Fayth, which goeth before, which receyueth remission of sinne. For the mind of man: can nat be persuaded in hym selfe ⟨image 43⟩that he shal obteyn helpe and succour of God, before he be surely certayned that God is and wyll be mercyfull to hym. The which rule doth shewe and declare that Paul doeth alledge the testimonies and scriptures of Fayth aryght, giuing vs instruction, how we shal behaue our selfes in our inuocation and prayer.