A22612:232
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.
1Secondarily it is manifest, that god doth approve the baptism of infants. Therefore the opinion of the Anabaptists is wicked, which disallow the baptising of infants. And that god doth allow the baptising of infants, it is declared sufficiently by this, ye god doth give the holy ghost to them, that be so baptised. For if this baptism were void, than the holy ghost should be given to none at all, than should none be saved, & finally there should be no church at all. Even this reason alone is able to confirm and establish sufficiently good and godly minds against the wicked and mad opinions of the Anabaptists.
1Secundarely it is manifest, that god doth approue the baptisme of infantes. Therfore the opinion of the Anabaptistꝭ is wycked, whiche disalowe the baptisyng of infantes. And that god dothe allowe the baptisynge of infantes, it is declared sufficiently by this, ye god dothe gyue the holy ghoste to them, that be so baptised. For if this baptisme were voyde, than the holy ghost shulde be gyuen to none at all, than shuld none be saued, & finally there shuld be no churche at all. Euen this reason alone is able to confirme and establyshe sufficiently good and godly myndes agaynst the wycked and madde opinions of the Anabaptistes.
- 1The ij. reason.
The .x. article they do approve, in which we do confess and knowledge,1 that we do think, that in the supper of the lord, or sacrament of the altar, there is verily and substantially the body & also blood of Christ, and that they be verily exhibited and given with those things, which be seen, that is to say, bread and wine, to them which do receive the sacrament. This sentence and opinion our preachers have steadfastly defended, and we find, that not only the Roman church doth affirm the bodily presence of Christ, but also the Greek church that now is, and also in old time hath ben of the same opinion, as the canon of the mass witnesseth which the Greeks do use. And there be records also of certain writers testifying the same.