The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

They observed and kept certain days, not because the same observation was necessary to justification but that the people should know, what time they ought to come together. They observed also certain other rites and ceremonies, as the order of the lessons, at what time they cam together. The people also observed certain of their forefathers usages and customs, which the apostles did somewhat change, and apply to the history of the gospel, as Easter / whitsuntide / to the intent y• not only by teaching but also by these examples they might deliver and leave the remembrance of these most great things, to them that should come after. Now if these things were taught as necessary to justification: why have the bishops afterwards changed many even of the same things? That if they were of God's law: it was not lawful to change them by mans authority. Easter, diverse men kept at diverse times before the council of Nicene. Nether did this diversity & unlikeness hurt the faith. Afterwards a way was taken, that our Easter ⟨image 99⟩should not fall upon the same time, that the Jews kept their Pasche or Easter. But the apostles commanded the churches to keep Easter with their brethren, which were converted of Jews. Wherefore this manner and custom certain nations did superstitiously keep & hold long after the counsel of Nicene in observing and following the time of the Jews. But the entente of the apostles was not with that decree to bind the churches to any necessity. which thing the words of the decree d• witness. For they bid that no man should care, although his brethren keeping Easter do not reckon and account the time aright. The words of the decree be in Epiphanius written in the greek tongue, which we have translated in to english in this wise. Make ye no supputation, but when your brethren, which be of the circumcision make their Easter, make ye Easter with them, and if they err in their supputation, do not ye care. These words Epiphanius writeth to be the words of the apostles, put in a certain decree concerning Easter. In which a trise reader may easily judge that the intent of the apostles was to pluck from the people the foolish opinion of the necessity of a certain and set time, in as much as they do forbid them to care, although some do miss in the right accounting.

They obserued and kepte certayne dayes, nat because ye same obseruation was necessary to iustification but that the people shulde knowe, what tyme they ought to come together. They obserued also certayne other rites and ceremonies, as the ordre of the lessons, at what tyme they cam together. The people also obserued certayne of theyr forefathers vsages and customes, which the apostles dyd sumwhat chaunge, and apply to the history of the gospell, as Easter / wytsontyde / to the entent y nat only by teachyng but also by these examples they myght delyuer and leaue the remembraunce of these most greate thingꝭ, to them that shulde come after. Nowe if these thynges were taught as necessary to iustification: why haue the byshoppes afterwardes chaunged many euen of the same thynges? That if they were of goddes lawe: it was nat lauful to chaunge them by mannes auctorite. Easter, diuerse men kepte at diuerse tymes before the councell of Nicene. Nether dyd this diuersite & vnlikenes hurt the fayth. Afterwardes a way was takē, that our Easter