A22612:203
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.
So shall it come to pass that if the conscience shall feel the judgement of the law, they shall run in to desperation. Paul saith. All that ever is not of faith is sin. But these persons will never work any thing by faith: if they should never think them selves to have god gracious and loving unto them but when they have fulfilled the law, yea rather they shall evidently perceive that they have not satisfied it. And therefore they shall never determine within them selves that they have God's favour and that their prayer is hard▪ and consequently they shall never love, they shall never truly worship god. Such manner of hearts and minds what other thing be they, but very hell it self? sith they be full of desperation and of the hatred of god, and yet in this hatred they do call upon god and do worship god as Saul did worship him. Here we provoke & appeal to godly minds and skilled of spiritual things.1 These can testify that those foresaid evils ensue of that ungodly persuasion of our adversaries who think that we be reputed just in the sight of god for our own fulfilling of the law and bid us not trust in the promise of mercy freely given for Christs sake but rather in our own fulfilling of the law. It is therefore expedient to determine with our selves that undoubtedly after renewing, we be righteous or acceptable to god and y• we have peace in y• sight of god through mercy for Christ, and also that such incomplete beginning of the law in us: is not worthy of ⟨image 84⟩eternal life, but that like wise as remission of since and justification is imputed through mercy for Christ and not for the law: even so eternal life with justification is offered not for the law and for the perfection of our works but through mercy for Christs sake, as christ him self saith. This is the will of my father who hath sent me: that every one which seeth the son, and believeth in him shall have everlasting life. But let us enquire of our adversaries what counsel they give unto them that be at the point of death, whether they do bid them think that they be counted just and to look after everlasting life for their own works, or else for the mercy of god for Christs sake?
So shall it come to passe that yf the conscyence shal fele the iudgement of the lawe, they shall runne in to desperatyon. Paule sayth. All that euer is not of fayth is synne. But these persons wyl neuer worke any thynge by faythe: yf they shuld neuer thynke them selues to haue god gracyous and louinge vnto thē but when they haue fulfylled the lawe, yea rather they shall euidently perceyue that they haue nat satisfyed it. And therfore they shall neuer determyne within them selues that they haue goddes fauour and that theyr prayer is hard and consequently they shal neuer loue, they shall neuer truly worshyppe god. Suche maner of hartes and myndes what other thynge be they, but very helle it selfe? syth they be ful of desperatyon and of the hatred of god, and yet in thys hatred they do cal vpon god and do worshype god as Saule dyd worshyppe hym. Here we prouoke & appele to godly mindes and skylled of spirituall thynges.