The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

This is the true fashion of acknowledging Messiah, to seek at him remission of since. And to conceive this opinion of Christ, thus to worship him, is rightly and truly to believe. But this word (love) Christ used not to the woman but to the Pharisee, for he compared the hole worshipping of the Pharisee with the hole worshipping of the woman. He chideth the Pharisee because he acknowledged him not to be Messiah, although he did unto him these extern offices as unto a stranger and an holy & great man, he pointeth to the woman and commendeth her worshipping, her ointment, •eares. &c̄. which all were signs of faith & a certain confession that at Christ she sought remission of since. Undoubtedly this was a great example, which not without cause moved Christ to chide the Pharisee which was a wise and an honest man, but one that believed not. This impiety he upbraideth him and instructeth him by the example of the woman, signifying that it was a shame y• where as an unlearned woman believed god, he a doctor ⟨image 66⟩of the law believed not, and acknowledged not Messiah, nor sought not at him remission of since & salvation. So then he praiseth the hole worshipping, as it is oft done in scripture, that in one word we should comprise many as here after we shall show more at large in like places, as in this saying Give alms and all shall be clean, he requireth not only almesdedꝭ but also the justice of faith: so also here when he sayeth, Many since be remitted unto her because she loved much, that is to say, because she hath worshipped me truly by faith and exercises and signs of faith: he compriseth the hole worshipping, but in the mean season yet, he teacheth this, that properly remission of since is received by faith, although love, confession and other good works do necessarily ensue. wherefore he meaneth not this, that those fruits be a recompense or ransom for which remission of since is given which may reconcile us to god. we dispute of a great thing even of the honour of Christ, and from whens the godly minds may fetch a sure & firm consolation, whether our trust is to be put in Christ or in our works If so be that we owe to set our trust in our works, then we must pluck from Christ the honour and title of a mediator and redeemer.

This is the trewe fashyon of acknowledgyng Messias, to seke at hym remission of synnes. And to conceiue this opinion of Christ, thus to worship him, is rightly and truly to beleue. But this worde (loue) Christe vsed nat to the womā but to the Pharisee, for he cōpared the hole worshyppyng of the Pharisee with the hole worshyppyng of the woman. He chydeth the Pharisee because he acknoweledged hym nat to be Messias, although he dyd vnto hym these externe officies as vnto a straunger and an holy & greate man, he poynteth to the woman and commendeth her worshyppyng, her oyntment, eares. &c̄. whiche all were sygnes of fayth & a certayne cōfession that at Christ she sought remission of synnes. Undoutedly this was a greate example, which nat without cause moued Christe to chyde the Pharisee whiche was a wyse and an honest man, but one that beleued nat. This impietie he vpbraideth him and instructeth him by the example of the woman, signifieng that it was a shame y where as an vnlerned woman beleued god, he a doctour