A22612:192
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.
Out of saint James they cite,1 Videtis igiturque ex operibus justificatur homo, et non ex fide sola .i. Ye see then that man is justified by works and not by faith only. Nor there is none other place which seemeth to make more against our opinion then this doth. Howbeit the answer is easy and plain. If the adversaries would not show unto it their own opinions of the merits of works,2 saint James words had no incommodity. But where so ever mention is made of works the adversaries do add their own wicked glosses, that by good works we deserve remission of since, that good works be a ransom and price for which god is reconciled unto us, that good works before god for their own goodness be accepted, nor need not mercy, or Christ to be our mediator. But none of all these things cam in to saint James mind, which all together the adversaries do now defend, under the pretence of the saying of S. James. First therefore this is to be weighed & pondered,3 that this place rather maketh against the adversaries than against us. For the adversaries teach man to be justified by love & works, but of faith (whereby we receive our mercystocke Christ) they speak nothing at all, yea rather they disprove this faith, and disprove it not only with words and sentences, but also they go about to put it away with the sword and grievous punishments. Howe much better teacheth James which omitteth not faith, nor putteth not love in the place of faith, but retaineth it, lest the mercystocke Christ should be excluded in justification. Like as Paul when he teacheth the Sum of the christian life, compriseth ⟨image 77⟩faith and love,4 as when he sayeth. The end of the commandment is charity issuing out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned. Secondly.5 The matter it self speaketh, that here it is spoken of works which ensue faith and which show that faith is not dead but lively and working in the heart. Wherefore James meant not that we by good works deserve remission of since and grace, for he speaketh of the works of them that be justified, which be already reconciled, accepted, and which have obtained remission of since. Wherefore the adversaries err when they out of this place gather that James teacheth us that by good works we have a cumming to god, without Christ the mediator.