A07407:87
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.
1¶ CHRYSOSTOM also in his commentary which he did write on the Epistle to the Romans the third chapter. By Faith (sayeth he) we do not only love God, but also we do believe that we are beloved of him, be we never so guilty, and that our sins be forgiven by him for his sonne sake. There is no kind of worshipping more excellent than this. No though thou shouldest abstain from theft and murder: that same deed can not be more pleasant and acceptable to God. Hitherto the words of Chrysostom, which though he do some time err and go out of the way, yet for ⟨p. xliii⟩this point he deserveth no small praise and commendation. For he hath set forth and painted this word and vocable Faith in his own colours so lively and so manifest (in that he sayeth that we must believe that we are beloved of God, yea though we be faulty and full of filthiness, and that we through our belief do receive remission of sin) that no man can more. The faithful man rejoiceth and is proud, not only because he loveth God, but also because he findeth at his hand again great love and profit. For likewise as he loved God giving and putting great confidence in him, being a token of a great love, so likewise God loved him being a great sinner not only not punishing as the sin deserveth: but for his steadfast confidence and trust in his mercy making him just and righteous.
1¶ CHRISOSTOM also in his cō mentarye whiche he dydde wryte on the Epystle to the Romaynes the thyrd chapyter. By Faythe (sayeth he) we do nat onely loue God, but also we do beleue that we are beloued of hym, be we neuer so gyltie, and that our sinnes be forgiuē by hym for hys sonne sake. There is no kynde of worshyppynge more excellente than thys. No though thou shuldest absteyne from theft and murdre: that same dede can nat be more pleasant and acceptable to God. Hytherto the wordes of Chrysostome, which though he do some tyme erre and go out of the way, yet for ⟨p. xliii⟩thys poynt he deserueth no smal prayse and commendation. For he hathe sette forthe and paynted thys worde and vocable Fayth in his owne colours so liuely and so manifest (in that he sayeth that we muste beleue that we are beloued of God, ye though we be fawty and full of fylthynes, and that we through oure belefe do receyue remission of sinne) that no man can more. The faythful man reioyseth and is proude, nat only bycause he louethe God, but also bycause he fyndeth at hys hand agayne great loue and profyte. For lykewyse as he loued God gyuynge and puttynge great confidence in hym, beynge a token of a great loue, so lykewise God loued hym beynge a great sinner nat only nat punyshyng as the sinne deserueth: but for hys stedfast confidence and trust in hys mercye makynge hym iust and ryghtwyse.