A22612:164
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.
1✚ There be also among holy fathers spread many like testimonies. For Saint Ambrose saith in his Epistle to Ireneus thus. Subditus autem mundus eo per legem factus est, quia ex prescripto legis omnes conueniuntur, et ex operibus legis nemo justificatur, 2id est, quia per legem peccatum cognoscitur, sed culpa non relaxatur. Videbatur lex nocuisse, que omnes fecerat peccatores, sed veniens dominus Jesus peccatuz omnibus, quod nemo poterat evitare donavit, et chirographum nostrū sui sanguinis effusione delevit. Hoc est quod ait Abundavit peccatū per legem, superabundavit autem gratia per Jesum. Quia postquā totus mundus subditus factus est, totius mundi peccatum abstulit, sicut testificatus est Johannes dicens Ecce agnus dei, ecce qui tollit peccatū mundi. Et ideo nemo glorietur in operibus, quia nemo factis suis instificatur. Sed qui instus est, donatum habet, quia post lavacrum justificatus est. Fides ergo est que liberat per sanguinem Christi quia beatus ille cui peccatum remittitur et venia donatur. That is to say. The world is made subject therefore by the law, because by the prescript of the law all be convented before the high judge, & of the works of the law no man is justified, that is, because by the law sin is known, but the offence is not remitted, the law seemed to have hurted which made all men sinners, but the lord Jesus by his coming pardoned unto all men, sin, which no man could eschew, and did clean strike out our chirograph with the shedding of his blood. This is it, that he sayeth. ⟨image 60⟩Sin was abundant by the law. But grace by Jesus was more abundant. For after that the hole world was become subject, he toke away the sin of the hole world, as testifieth Johan saying. Lo the lamb of god, Lo he that taketh away the sin of the world. And therefore let no man glory in his works, for no man is justified hy his facts. But he that is justified, hath it given him. Wherefore faith is the thing which delivereth by the blood of Christ, for blessed is he to whom sin is remitted, and pardon given. These be the words of Saint Ambrose which apertly do defend our opinion. For he plucketh away from works justification, and giveth it to faith, because it delivereth by the blood of Christ.
1✚ There be also amonge holye fathers spred many lyke testymonyes. For Saynt Ambrose sayth in hys Epystle to Ireneus thus. Subditus autem mundus eo per legem factus est, quia ex prescripto legis omnes conueniuntur, et ex operibus legis nemo iustificatur,