A22612:138
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.
The adversaries only feign that faith is a knowledge of the history, and therefore they teach that it may stand with mortal sin. They speak therefore nothing of faith, by which Paul so oft times saith that men be justified, for they which be reputed just before god, walk not in mortal sin. But that faith which justifieth, is not only a knowledge of the history, but it is to assent to the promise of God, in which freely for Christ is offered remission of since & justification ⟨image 52⟩And lest a man should suspect, that it is only a knowledge,1 we will add more over that it is to will and to receive the offered promise of remission of since and of justification. And a man may easily see the diversity betwixt this faith and betwixt the justice of the law Faith is a service which receiveth of god the offered benefits. The justice of the law is a service which offereth unto god our merits. with faith on thꝭ fashion will god be served, that we may receive of him the things which he promiseth and offereth. Now, that faith signifieth not only the knowledge of the history, but rather a trust which assenteth to the promise, Paul clearly witnesseth when he saith. Justice therefore is by faith to the intent the promise should be firm and stable. For he meaneth that the promise can not be received but by faith, wherefore he compareth and knitteth together as correlatives promise and faith. Howe be it, it is soon judged what faith is if we consider the Creed, where this article is put. Remission of since. wherefore it is not enough to believe that Christ was borne, did suffer, and rise again, oneles we add also this article (Remission of since) which is the final cause of the history. To this article we must refer the rest, as, that for Christ and not for our own merits we be pardoned of our since. For what needed Christ to be given for our since, if our own merits may satisfy for our since?
THe aduersaries only fayne that fayth is a knowledge of the hystorye, and therfore they teache that it may stonde with mortall syn. They speake therfore nothīge of fayth, by which Paule so oft tymes saythe that men be iustyfyed, for they whiche be reputed iust before god, walke nat in mortal synne. But that fayth whiche iustyfyeth, is nat only a knoweledge of the hystorye, but it is to assent to the promyse of God, in whiche frelye for Chryste is offered remyssyon of synnes & iustificacyon ⟨image 52⟩