A22612:220
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.
yet they be not the very kingdom of Christ, and the members of Christ, for they be members of the kingdom of the devil. Neither do we dream of a Platonical city (as certain men do wickedly belie us) but we do say, that this hath ⟨image 94⟩a being and is in deed, even the true believers and righteous men sparkled & scattered abroad throughout the hole world. And we put unto, tokens and marks, the pure doctrine of the gospel, and due administration of the sacraments. And this church is properly the pillar of truth, for it holdeth fast the true and pure gospel, and (as Paul saith) the foundation, which is the true knowledge and faith of Christ, albeit there be even among these also many weak persons, which upon the foundation do build stubble or straw that shall perish, that is to say, certain unprofitable opinions, which yet because they do not overturn and destroy the foundation, be partly forgiven them, and partly also be amended. But the writings of the holy fathers do witness, that otherwhiles they have also builded stubble upon the foundation, but yet such have not overthrown their faith. But the most part of these things, which our adversaries do defend, do quite & clean overthrow the faith / as (for example) that they do condemn the article of remission of since. In which we do say, that by faith is received remission of since. It is a a manifest and a perilous error also, that our adversaries do teach men to merit remission of sins by love towards god, before grace. For this also is to take away the foundation, (that is to wit) Christ. Also what shall we need faith, if the sacraments justify by the virtue of the work that is wrought, without the good motion of mind? And likewise as the church hath a promise, that it shall alway have the holy ghost: so hath it comminations ⟨image 95⟩and threatenings, that there shall be wicked teachers, and wolves. But that is properly the church, which hath the holy ghost, where as wolves and evil teachers, although they work masteries in the church, yet they be not properly the kingdom of Christ, as Lyra witnesseth when he saith:1 The church standeth not in men, by the reason of the power or dignity ecclesiastical, or secular. For many princes, and also bishops of Rome with other inferiors have ben found to have run out of the faith.