A22612:154
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 let not godly minds suffer them selves to be driven from this opinion, that by only faith we receive remission for Christ. For in this they have a sure and firm consolation against the terrors of sin and against everlasting death, and against all the gates of hell. And sith by only faith we receive remission of since and reconciliation for Christ, ergo only faith justifieth, because the reconciled be reputed righteous and the children of god, not for their own cleanness▪ but through mercy for Christ, if so be that we cleave to this mercy by faith, and therefore the scripture recordeth, that by faith we be reputed righteous.
wherfore let nat godly myndes suffre them selues to be dryuen from thys opinion, that by onely faythe we receyue remission for Christ. For in this they haue a sure and ferme cōsolacion agaynst the terrours of synne and agaynst euerlastyng death, and agaynst all the gates of helle. And syth by only faythe we receyue remission of synnes and reconciliacion for Christe, ergo only fayth iustifieth, because the reconciled be reputed ryghtwyse and the chyldern of god, nat for theyr owne clennes▪ but through mercy for Christ, if so be that we cleaue to thys mercye by fayth, and therfore the scripture recordeth, that by faythe we be reputed ryghwyse.
1we will add therefore authorities first of scripture & then of doctors, that shall clearly testify that only faith is the very justice by which we be reputed just before god, that is to say, not because it is a work worthy of it self, but because it receiveth the promise by which god hath promised, that for Christ he will be merciful to the believers in him, or be cause it believeth, that Christ is made for us by god a wisdom, justice, sanctification and ⟨image 58⟩redemption:2 Paul in the epistle to the Romans disputeth principally of thꝭ place and propoundeth that we be freely justified by faith if we believe that god is pacified with us for Christ. And in the third chapter he bringeth in, this proposition which containeth the sum of his hole disputacion. Arbitramur. igitur hominem fide justificari, non ex operibus legis .i. we judge therefore that man is justified by ayth and not by the works of the law. Here the adversaries do interpret the works of the law to be the Levitical ceremonies. But Paul not only speaketh of the ceremonies,