A22612:255
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.
In these terrors the conscience feeleth the wrath of god against sin, which is unknown to careless and reckless persons, which walk after a fleshly fashion. This conscience seethe the filthiness of sin, and is earnestly sorry that it hath done amiss. It also fleeth in the mean season the horrible wrath of god because mans nature is not able to sustain it, onles it be strengthened and borne up with the word of god. So saith Paul. By the law I am dead to the law. For the law only accuseth and maketh afraid consciences. In these terrors our adversaries do speak nothing at all of faith. Thus only they propound and sex forth the word, which rebuketh since. The which word, when it is taught only, is the doctrine of the law, and not of the gospel. with these sorrows and terrors they say that men do merit grace: if it be so that they love god. But how shall men love god in the true fears & terrors: when they ⟨image 108⟩feel the horrible wrath of god, which can not be expressed with the words of man? What other thing do they but teach desperation, which in these troublous terrors do only show the law?
In these terrours the conscience felethe the wrathe of god agaynste synne, whiche is vnknowen to careles and recheles persones, whiche walke after a fleshely fashyon. This conscience seethe the fylthynes of synne, and is earnestlye sory that it hath done amysse. It also fleethe in the meane season the horrible wrath of god because mannes nature is not able to susteine it, onles it be strēgthed and borne vp with the worde of god. So sayth Paule. By the lawe I am deade to the lawe. For the lawe onely accuseth and maketh afrayde cōsciēces. In these terrours our aduersaries do speake nothyng at all of faythe. Thus onely they propowne and sex forth the worde, whiche rebuketh synnes. The whiche worde, whan it is taughte onely, is the doctrine of the lawe, and not of the gospell. with these sorowes and terrours they say that men do merite grace: if it be so that they loue god. But howe shall men loue god in the true feares & terrours: whan they ⟨image 108⟩feele the horrible wrathe of god, whiche can not be expressed with the wordꝭ of man? What other thynge do they but teache desperation, whiche in these troublous terrours do onelye shewe the lawe?