A22612:180
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.
If we say that we have not sin, we seduce our selves and truth is not in us. Also in the Pater noster the holy men desire remission of since. • holy men also have since. In the book of Numer. And the innocent shall be no innocent. And Zechariah sayeth. Sil•at a facie domini omnis caro .i. Let every man hold his tongue in the lords presence. And Isaiah. Every flesh is hay, and all his ⟨image 69⟩glory is like a flower of the field. The hay withereth up, and the flour fadeth, because the spirit of the lord hath blown in it, that is to say, the flesh and the justice of the flesh can not abide the judgement of god. And Jonah sayeth in the second chapter. In vain they observe vanities which leave mercy .i. Al trust is void, save the trust of mercy. Mercy saveth us, our own merits, our own proper endeavours save us not. These and semblable sentences in scriptures testify that our works be unclean & have need of mercy. Wherefore works do not pacify the conscience, but mercy conceived by faith.
If we say that we haue nat synne, we seduce our selues and trouth is nat in vs. Also in the Pater noster the holy men desyre remissiō of synnes. • holy men also haue synnes. In the boke of Numer. And the innocent shalbe no innocent. And Zacharie sayeth. Sil•at a facie domini omnis caro .i. Let euery man holde his tongue in the lordꝭ presēce. And Esaye. Euery fleshe is haye, and all hys ⟨image 69⟩glorie is lyke a flower of the felde. The haye wythereth vp, and the floure fadeth, because the spirite of the lorde hath blowē in it, that is to say, the fleshe and the iustice of the fleshe cā nat abyde the iudgement of god. And Ionas sayeth in the seconde chapiter. In vayne they obserue vanities which leaue mercy .i. Al trust is voyde, saue the truste of mercye. Mercy saueth vs, our owne merites, our owne propre endeuours saue vs nat. These and semblable sentencies in scriptures testifie that our workes be vncleane & haue nede of mercie. Wherfore workes do nat pacifie the conscience, but mercie conceyued by faythe.