A22612:168
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.
¶ Of love and fulfilling of the law.
¶ Of loue and fulfyllynge of the lawe.
Here the adversaries object. Si vis ad vitam ingredi serua mandata That is to say. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Also, The doers of the law be justified, and many other like sentences of the law, to which before we make answer, we will show our opinion of love, and of the fulfilling of the law. It is written in the prophet, I will give my law in their hearts. And Paul saith that the law is established and not abrogate by faith. And Christ saith.1 If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Also, If I have not love, I am nothing These and such like sentences testify that the law must begin in us although not absolutely in an high perfection, and oweth to to increase as much as may be more & more. We speak not of the ceremonies, but of that law which is made of the motions of the hart. I mean the Decalogue. And because faith bringeth with it the holy ghost and engendereth ⟨image 63⟩a new life in the hearts, it must of necessity also engender spiritual motions in the hearts. And which be tho motions the prophet showeth when he saith. I will give my love into their hearts. wherefore after that by faith we be justified and renewed, we begin to fear god, to love god, to crave & look after succour of god, to give thanks unto him, to preach him, and to obey him in afflictions, we begin also to love our neighbours, because our hearts have spiritual and holy motions. These things can not be done onles, after that we be justified by faith and regenerate, we receive the holy ghost, first, because the law can not be done without christ, also the law can not be done without the holy ghost. But the holy ghost is received by faith according to the saying of Paul,