A22612:124
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.
For these things he compriseth when he nameth ignorance. And these sentences be agreeing to scriptures. For Paul otherwhiles expressly nameth the lack or default, as in the first to the Corinthians y• .2. chapter. Animalis homo non percipit ea quae spiritus dei sunt. A naturall man perceiveth not the things that be of the spirit ⟨image 45⟩of god. In another place he nameth concupiscence to be of power and efficacy in the members, & to bring forth evil fruits. •e could recite more places for both parts, but a manifest thing needeth no testimonies. Undoubtedly a prudent reader may easily judge that to be without fear and to be without faith is even very actual sin. For they be perdurable defaults in a nature unrenewed. ❧
For these thynges he compriseth when he nameth ignorance. And these sentencyes be agreynge to scriptures. For Paule otherwhyles expresly nameth the lacke or defaulte, as in the fyrst to the Corinthes y• .2. chapitre. Animalis homo non percipit ea quae spiritus dei sunt. A naturall mā perceyueth nat the thynges that be of the spirite ⟨image 45⟩of god. In another place he nameth concupiscēce to be of power and efficacitie in the mēbres, & to bryng forth euyl frutes. •e could recite more places for bothe partes, but a manifest thyng nedeth no testimonies. Undoubtedly a prudent reader maye easyly iudge that to be without feare and to be without faythe is euen very actual synne. For they be perdurable defaultes in a nature vnrenewed. ❧
wherefore our opinion of original sin doth not vary from scripture nor from the catholic church. we do nothing but repurge clarify & bring again into light the most grave sentences of scripture and of the fathers here to fore obscured and hid by the sophistical questions of these late divines. For the thing it self speaketh that these new divines perceived not what the fathers meant wham they spake of default. Truly the knowledge of original sin is right necessary. For the greatness of the grace of Christ can not be otherwise understand, onles we first know our own infirmities. The hole justice of man is mere hypocrisy before god, onles we acknowledge y our heart naturally is void of love, of fear, of trust towards god. Therefore sayeth the prophet. After that ye haste showed it unto me. I strake my thigh. Also, I said in my trance every man is a liar, that is to say an untrue thinker of god. ❧ ❧