A07407:88
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.
¶Bernard also is no less worthy of commendation:1 for that he writeth concerning faith, whose words are these following, written in his sermon of the Annunciation. It is necessary (saith he) first of all to believe that thou mayest and shalt obtain remission of thy sin: none other way than by the pardon and most jentill favour of god. Thou must also add this unto thy belief and trust of remission ⟨image 44⟩of sin: that for Christ sake thi• sins are forgiven thee. This is the testimony and witness that the holy ghost beareth in thy barte, saying to thee: thy sins are forgiven thee. After this manner did the apostle deem and judge, that a man freely by faith is made just. This far goeth the words of Barnard, which hath many such like sentences: being but of late, & not very many years past a writer, not ignorant nor void of these spiritual exercises and motions, whereby he did perceive that the conscience could not be satisfied and set at rest without the trust of the mercy of god by faith, which faith he called as we do, the confidence or trust of mercy. I have said before, that we do comprehend under this vocable of faith, the historical knowledge also of the life of Christ, with all the circumstances thereof: and all the articles of our faith: so that when faith doth conceive and comprehend this article of remission of sin, then do we straight way give trust and confidence without doubt that we shall receive this benefit. Where as other, which going no further than the bare historical knowledge of Christ: at this point making their stay, do not believe of the remission of sin, (according as they do teach ⟨p. xliiii⟩and preach) that is: that men shall doubt whether their sins be forgiven them yea or nay.
¶Bernarde also is no lesse worthye of commendation:1 for that he writeth concernyng feythe, whose wordes are these folowing, written in his sarmon of the Annunciatiō. It is necessari (saith he) fyrst of all to beleue that thou maist and shalt obteyne remission of thy syn: none other way than by the pardon and moste ientill fauour of god. Thou muste also adde this vnto thy belefe and trust of remission