A22612:231
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.
The .ix. article they do allow, in which we confess,1 that baptism is necessary to salvation, and that children be to be baptised, and that the baptism of children is not in vain, but necessary and effectual to salvation. And because the gospel is purely and diligently taught among us, by the benefit of god, this fruit also we do take of it, that in our churches there have ben none Anabaptists, because the people have ben armed with the word of god, against the wicked and seditious faction of those robbers and thieves. And albeit we do condemn & disallow very many other errors of the Anabaptists:* yet this we condemn in especial, that they dispute the baptism of children to be unprofitable. For it is undoubted, that the promise of health and salvation appertaineth also to little children. But it doth not appertain to them, which be out of the church of Christ, where is neither the word, neither the sacraments. For the kingdom of Christ hath the being only with the word & the sacraments. Therefore it is necessary to baptise infants, that the promise of salvation may be applied to them, according to the commandment of Christ. Baptise ye all people. Where like wise as to all men is offered salvation: so to all men ⟨image 101⟩is offered baptism, both to men, women, children, and infants. It followeth therefore evidently, that infants must be baptised, because health is offered with baptism.
THe .ix. article they do allowe, in whiche we confesse,1 that baptisme is necessarye to saluation, and that chyldren be to be baptised, and that the baptisme of chyldren is not in vayne, but necessarye and effectuall to saluation. And bicause the gospell is purely and diligently taught amonge vs, by the benefite of god, this frute also we do take of it, yt in our churches there haue ben none Anabaptistes, because the people haue ben armed with the worde of god, agaynst the wycked and sedicious faction of those robbers and theues. And albeit we do condempne & disalowe very many other errours of the Anabaptistes:* yet this we condempne in especiall, that they dispute the baptisme of chyldren to be vnprofitable. For it is vndoubted, that the promyse of helthe and saluation apperteyneth also to lytle chyldren. But it doth not apperteyn to them, whiche be out of the churche of Christ, where is neither the worde, neither the sacramētes. For the kyngdome of Christ hath the beinge only with the worde & the sacramētes. Therfore it is necessarie to baptise infaūtes, that the promyse of saluation may be applyed to them, accordynge to the cōmaundement of Christe. Baptise ye all people. Where lyke wyse as to all mē is offered saluation: so to all men