A22612:202
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.
But he reputeth a man righteous by mercy for Christs sake, so that a man do receive him by faith. Wherefore faith may be called Justice, for it is that thing, which is imputed to righteousness (as paul is wont to speak) in what so ever part of man it be put. For that doth nothing at all let God's imputation, how be it we do put this faith in the will of man, for it is to will and to receive the promise of Christ. And this scholastical argument thus debated because it driveth the matter to an art, the hole cause seemeth ⟨image 83⟩much the better to be perceived. By […] these things it may be also perceived what is to be judged de merito condigni that is to wit of the merit of worthiness, of which our adversaries do feign, that men be righteous in the sight of god for their own love and fulfilling of the law. Here is no mention at all made of the justice of faith and in the stead of Christ the mediator, is put that we be accepted for our fulfilling of the law. These things are in no wise sufferable, but (as we said before) though love followeth renovation, yet may not the glory of Christ be taken from him and given to our fulfilling of the law, but it is to be thought that even after the renovation also, we be accounted just for Christs sake and that Christ remaineth still a mediator and mercy stock and that by the means of Christ and for him we have coming and enter to the father, and that we do not satisfy the law but that we have always need of mercy and that we be always counted just for mercy. And this thing doth the hole church confess that we be made righteous and saved through mercy as we have heretofore recited forth of Saint Jerome.1 Our righteousness is not for our own merit but cometh of the mercy of god. But so it is that this mercy is received by faith, go . &c̄.2 But see I pray you what inconvenience ensueth of the opinion of our adversaries if it should be thought that Christ did only merit the first grace or favour (as they call it) and afterwards we be accepted for our own fulfilling of the law, and do deserve eternal life: when shall consciences be quiet? when shall they be assured ⟨image 84⟩that they have the favour of god? for the law always accuseth us as Paul sayeth. Lex irā operatur, the law worketh wrath.