A22612:155
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.
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,* but of the hole law. For he allegeth a little after, forth of the Decalogie, Non concupisces .i. thou shalt not covet. Moreover if the moral works might deserve remission of since and justification, then needed not Christ, nor the promise, then all were to no purpose that Paul speaketh of promise. He should write also amiss to the Ephesians, that we be saved freely, and that it is a gift of god, and proceedeth not of works. Also Paul allegeth Abraham, he allegeth David. But these had a commandment of god of circumcision, wherefore if any works justified it was necessary that tho works which then were commanded should have justified.4 But Austin doth rightly teach that Paul spake of the hole law, as he disputeth copiously in his book, de spiritu & litera, where at last he sayeth thus. His igitur consideratis pertractatis•• pro viribus quas dominus donare dignatur, colligimus non justificare •ominem preceptis bone vite, nisi per fidem Jesa Christi. .i. These therefore considered and handled according to the power which god vouchsafeth to give us, we gather that