A22612:218
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.
Moreover, that evil men be of the Church only in name and not in deed: but the good both in deed and in name, In this sentence be many things red of the fathers. For Jerome saith:1 who therefore is a sinner maculate with any spot, can not be said of the church of Christ, nor subject to Christ. Wherefore although hypocrites and evil men be fellows of this true church according to extern rites: yet when the church is defined, we must needs define that which is the living body of Christ, and which is the church both in name & in de•e. And that for many causes, first it is necessary to be known what thing doth principally make us members and lively members of the Church. But if we should only define the church to be an extern policy of good and evil, men shall not understand that the kingdom of Christ is the justice of the heart, and a giving of the holy ghost, but shall judge it only to by an outward keeping of certain rites & ceremonies. Moreover what diversity shall there be betwixt the people of the law & the church, if the church be an outward policy▪ But Paul doth so discern the church from the people of the law, that he calleth the church a spiritual people, that is to say, distinct not by civil rites from the gentiles, but the true people of god regenerate by the holy ghost. But in the people of the law beside the promise made of Christ / also the carnal seed had promises of corporal things, of a kingdom. &c. And for these promises the Jews were called the people of god, not only the good, but ⟨image 93⟩also they which among them were evil. For god severed this carnal seed from the rest of the gentiles by certain extern ordinances and promises. And yet those evil persons pleased not god. But the evangel bringeth not a shadow of eternal things, but the self things which be eternal, as the holy ghost, and righteousness, by which we be righteous before god. Wherefore they only be the people according to the gospel, which receive this promise of the spirit. Beside this, the church is the kingdom of Christ, distinct from the kingdom of the devil. But certain it is that wicked men be in the power of the devil, and members of his kingdom, as Paul teacheth saying,2 that the devil is mighty in infidels.