A22612:156
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.
And lest we should think that this sentence fell from Paul unawares, that faith justifieth, he maintaineth and confirmeth it with a long disputation in the fourth chapter to the Rom. And after he repeateth it in all the epistles. In the .4. chap. to the Romans he sayeth thus. Operanti, merces non imputatur secundum graci•, sed secundum debitum, Ei autem qui non operatur, credit autem in eum qui justificat impium, reputatur fides eius ad justiciam .i. To him that worketh is given a reward not of favour but of duty. Contrary wise, to him that worketh not, but trusteth on him that justifieth the wicked, his believe is accounted for righteousness. Here he clearly pronounceth that very faith is accounted for righteousness. Faith then is the thing which god pronounceth to be righteousness, and he addeth that it is freely imputed. And he denieth that it can be freely imputed, if it should be due for works. Ergo he also excluded the merit of moral works. For if to these were due the justification before god, faith should not be accounted righteousness without works. And after he sayeth▪ For we say that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. In the fifth chapter he sayeth. Justified by faith we have peace toward god .i. we have quiet and glad consciences before god. Roma. 10. with the heart it is believed for righteousness. Here he pronounceth faith to be the justice of the heart.
And leaste we shulde thynke that this sentence fell from Paule vnwares, that fayth iustifieth, he mainteyneth and confyrmeth it with a longe disputacyon in the fourthe chapitre to the Rom. And after he repeteth it in all the epystles. In the .4. chap. to the Romanes he sayeth thus. Operanti, merces non imputatur secundum graci•, sed secundum debitum, Ei autem qui non operatur, credit autem in eum qui iustificat impium, reputatur fides eius ad iusticiam .i. To him that worketh is geuē a rewarde nat of fauour but of dutie. Cōtrary wyse, to him that worketh nat, but trusteth on hym that iustifieth the wycked, hys beleue is accompted for ryghtwysnes. Here he clerely pronounceth that very faythe is accompted for ryghtwysenes. Faythe then is the thynge whiche god pronounceth to be ryghtwysnes, and he addeth that it is frely imputed. And he denieth that it can be frely imputed, if it shuld be due for workes. Ergo he also excluded the merite of morall workes. For if to these were due the iustifycacion before god, faythe shuld nat be accompted ryghwysenes without workes. And after he sayeth For we saye that fayth was īputed to Abrahā for ryghtwysnes. In the fyfthe chapitre he sayeth. Iustifyed by fayth we haue peace towarde god .i. we haue quyet and glad consciences before god. Roma. 10. with the harte it is beleued for ryghtwysnes. Here he pronounceth faythe to be the iustice of the harte.