A22612:122
The Confession of the Faith of the Germans
The confession of the faith of the Germans exhibited to the most victorious Emperor Charles the. v. in the Council or assemble holden at Augusta the year of our Lord. 1530. To which is added the apology of Melanchthon who defendeth with reasons invincible the aforesaid confession translated by Richard Taverner at the commaundeme[n]t of his master Thomas Cromwell chief Secretary to the kings grace.The confessyon of the fayth of the Germaynes exhibited to the moste victorious Emperour Charles the. v. in the Councell or assemble holden at Augusta the yere of our Lorde. 1530. To which is added the apologie of Melancthon who defendeth with reasons inuincible the aforesayde confesyon translated by Rycharde Tauerner at the commaundeme[n]t of his master Thomas Cromwel chefe Secretarie to the kynges grace.
Imprinted at London : In fletestrete, by me Robert Redman, dwelling at the sign of the George next to saint Dunstones Churche, 1536Imprynted at London : In fletestrete, by me Robert Redman, dwellynge at the sygne of the George nexte to saynt Dunstones Churche, 1536
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.
❧ wherefore the old definition, that calleth original sin the lack of justice detracteth ⟨image 44⟩not only the obedience of the inferior powers of man, but also detracteth the notice of god / the trust in god / the fear and love of god, or at lest it detracteth the power of doing these. For the divines them selves in the schools teach, that these be not done without a peculiar gift and aid of grace. we do name the gifts expressly (that the thing may be understand) the notice of god, the fear and trust toward god. By this it appeareth that the old definition doth speak the same thing that we do. detracting or plucking away the fear of god and hope, that is to say, not only actual deeds but also the gifts and might to do this.
❧ wherfore the olde definicion, that calleth originall synne the lacke of iustice detracteth ⟨image 44⟩nat only the obediēce of the inferiour powers of man, but also detracteth the notice of god / the truste in god / the feare and loue of god, or at lest it detracteth the power of doyng these. For the deuynes thē selues in the scoles teache, that these be nat done without a peculiar gyfte and ayde of grace. we do name the gyftꝭ expressly (that the thynge may be vnderstāde) the notice of god, the feare and truste towarde god. By this it appereth that the olde definicion dothe speake the same thyng that we do. detractyng or plucking away the feare of god and hope, that is to say, nat only actual dedes but also the gyftes and myght to do this.
The same sentence hath the definition of Austin, who useth to define original sin to be concupiscence. For he meaneth that when justice was lost, concupiscence succeeded. For the decayed nature because it can not fear, love, and trust god, it seeketh and loveth carnal things. The judgement of god, this sick & corrupt nature either void of fear despiseth, or being replenished with fear hateth. Thus Austin compriseth aswell the default or failing, as the vicious quality which thereof ensueth. Nor this concupiscence is not only a corruption of the qualities of the body, but also an unright turning to things carnal in the superior powers. Nor they see not what they say which do both attribute to man concupiscence not mortified of the holy ghost, & also the love of god above allthings. we therefore have rightly expressed both two in the description of original sin, that is to say, those defaults, as not to be of power to believe god, not to be of power to dread and