A22612:177
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 yet we shall find in the judgement of god that this confidence is vain and that the conscience from thence shall run into despair. That if remission of since and reconciliation chanceth not freely for Christ, but for our love and merits: no man shall have remission of since, but where he fulfilleth the hole law, for the law justifieth us not, so long as it can accuse us. ⟨image 67⟩It is evident then, sith justification is reconciliation for Christ, that by faith we be justified, for it is most certain that by only faith is received remission of since.1 Now therefore let us answer to the question afore proposed, why love justifieth not. The adversaries think rightly that love is the fulfilling of the law. And doubtless the obedience toward the law were righteousness, if we could do the law. But we have heretofore showed, that the promises were therefore given, because we could not do the law. And for this self cause denieth Paul that we be justified by the law. The adversaries be deceived because in this hole controversy, they have respect only to the law. For humane reason can none otherwise judge, but that justification is to be sought for in the law, because the obedience toward the law is justice. But the Evangel calleth us away from the law to the promises and teacheth that we be reputed just, not for the obedience of the law (for we satisfy not the law) but because that reconciliation is given unto us for Christ, which we only receive by faith. wherefore before we do the law we must by faith receive remission of since and reconciliation. O Lord god with what face dare these men name Christ, with what countenance dare they behold the Evangel which deny that we obtain remission of sins for Christ by only faith? Secondly, this self fulfilling of the law which followeth renovation: is both small and unclean. For though renovation be attempted & somewhat begun: yet the dregs of sin stick still in nature, alway accusing us, onles by faith in Christ ⟨image 67⟩we obtain remission of since, & know that we have a cumming to god, not for our own fulfilling of the law, but for Christ. Therefore that fulfilling of the law is not accepted for it self but for faith.
And yet we shall fynde in the iudgement of god that this confidence is vayne and that the conscience from thens shall rūne into despayre. That if remission of synnes and reconciliacyon chaunseth nat frely for Christ, but for our loue and merites: no man shal haue remission of synnes, but where he fulfylleth the hole lawe, for the lawe iustifieth vs nat, so longe as it can accuse vs.