A22612:200
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 the gloss saith, that it cleanseth from venial since. Such were also the opinions of the Pharisees which Christ reprehendeth, and he setteth against this feigned purgation two manner of cleanness the one inward the other outward, he biddeth that they should be made clean inwardly and addeth ⟨image 82⟩concerning outward cleanness. Give in alms of your superfluity and abundance, and so all things shall be clean unto you. Our adversaries do not rightly apply this particle or sygne unyuersall (omnia) for Christe addeth this conclusion to both members. Then all thing shall be clean to you, that is to wit, if ye shall be clean inwardly, and shall give alms outwardly. For he signifieth, that outward cleanness is to be set in the works commanded by god, and not in the traditions of men, as then were tho oft washings, and now a days is the daily sprinkling of holy water, the habits of religious persons (as they be called) the diversity & choice of metes and like pomps. But our adversaries do corrupt the sentence with sophistry translating the universal particle to the one part alone. All things shall be clean to you if ye give alms, as if a man should make thꝭ reason. S Andrew is present, go all the Apostles be present. Wherefore in the antecedent both members ought to be joined together in this wise. Believe and give alms so all things shall be clean to you. For the scripture saith in another place, that the hearts be purified by faith. That if the hearts be cleansed, and afterward alms deeds be put to outwardly, that is to say, all manner works of charity: so shall they be clean all together, that is for to say not only within, but also without. And that hole sermone of Christe ought to be joined together, of which there be many parts, whereof certain do teach of faith and certain of works. And it is no property of a good reader to pick out the precepts of works. ⟨image 82⟩leaving out the places of faith. There be some also which do interpret it to be an Ironical locution. Give ye alms, and all things be cleave unto you. For Christ seemeth dryly to check the vain persuasion of the pharisees, which when they had their minds laden with most lewd affections, yet in the mean season because they gave alms thought them selves to be half gods.
And the glose sayth, that it cleneth from venial synnes. Suche were also the opinions of the Pharisies whiche Christ reprehendeth, and he setteth against this fayned purgatyon two maner of clennes the one inwarde the other outwarde, he byddeth that they shulde be made cleane inwardly and addeth