A22612:190
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.
the churches should be in tranquillity and the public weals in unity and peace. For these tumults & rufflings should cease, if the adversaries would not thus rigorously exact certain traditions unprofitable to godliness of which the most part not they them selves do keep which do most stoutly defend them. They easily pardon them selves,* but other they will not so, even as Mevius doth in Horace. Egomet mi ignosco Mevius inquit. I (saith Mevius) do forgive mine own self. Undoubtedly this nothing agreeth with these noble praises of charity, which they here city out of Paul and understand him no more then the walls understand the voice that cometh unto them.2 Out of Peter they city also this sentence Charity hideth a multitude of sinne•. But it is also certain that Peter speaketh of the love toward the neighbour, who applieth ⟨image 75⟩this place to the precept in which he commandeth men to love each another. Nor truly it could not come to the mind of any of the Apostles, that our love should overcome sin and death, that our love should be a purgation for which god should be reconciled, the mediator Christ omitted, that our love should be righteousness without the mediator Christ, For this love, if any there were, should be a justice of the law, and not of the gospel which promiseth to us reconcilement and righteousness if we believe that for Christ our redeemer the father be pacified and that Christs merits be our satisfaction. Therefore Peter a little before biddeth us cum to Christ that we may be built upon Christ, and he addeth. who believeth in him shall not be confounded. our love delivereth us not from confusion, sith god judgeth and reproveth us, but faith in Christ delivereth us in these affrays, because we know that we be pardoned for Christs sake. Howe be it this sentence of charity is taken forth of the proverbs where the circumstance of the place which runneth in contrarieties doth clearly show how it ought to be understand.3 For there thus is it written. Odium suscitat rixas et universa delicta operit charitas. i. Hatred stirreth contentions, but charity covereth all faults.