A22612:233
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 .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. ⟨image 101⟩For Cyril upon John in the .xv. chapter,2 saith, that Christ is corporally exhibited unto us in the supper of the lord. For thus he saith: Yet we do not deny, that by right faith and sincere charity •e be joined to Christ spiritually. But that we have no manner of conjunction with h•m, as touching the flesh, that verily we do utterly deny. And we do say, that it is clean contrary to the scriptures of god. For who hath doubted that Christ also hath ben the vine, and we the branches, which do get life forth of it to our selves? Hearken what Paul saith. For all we be one body in Christ. For all be it we be many: yet be we all on in him For all we be partakers of one bread. Doth he think happily that the virtue of the mystical benediction is unknown to us? which sith it is made in us, doth it not also by the partetakyng• of the flesh of Christ make Christ to dwell corporally in us? And not long after he saith. wherefore it is to be considered, that Christ is in us not only habitually, which is perceived by charity, but also by natural participation▪ &c. These things we have recited, not to the intent to begin a disputation here of this matter (for the emperor's majesty doth not disallow this article) but to the intent▪ that who so ever shall read these things may perceive the more clearly, that we do defend the sentence received in the hole church, that in the supper of the lord be truly and substantially present the body and blood of Christ, and be verily exhibited and given with those things which be seen, bread and wine.