A22612:259
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.
1And afterwards to the Colossians he saith,2 that Christ doth blot out the chirograph or obligation, which by the law is against us. Here also be two parts the obligation and the cancelling and blotting out the obligation. The obligation is the conscience rebuking & condemning us. The law is the word, which rebuketh and condemneth since. This voice therefore which saith: I have sinned to the lord (so as David said) is an obligation.3 And this voice or saying, ungodly and careless men do never bring forth earnestly. For they do not see, nor read the sentence of the law written in their heart. In the true dolours and terrors this sentence is seen. The obligation therefore is contrition it self, condemning us. To cancel and blot out the obligation, is to take away the sentence of condemnation out of the mind: & to grave in it the sure sentence, by which we do think that we be delivered from that condemnation. But faith is that new sentence, which abrogateth and disannulleth the former sentence, and giveth peace and life to the heart.4 Howe be it what need we to cite many testimonies and authorities, sith the scripture runneth so full of them. An the .11•. psalm David saith: The lord hath sore chastised me, and hath not delivered me to death. And in the .118. psalm he saith. My ⟨image 110⟩soul hath fainted for anguish. Strengthen me with thy word. where in the first member is contained contrition. And in the second, the manner is plainly described how we be refreshed and comforted in contrition (that is to wit) with the word of god, which offereth grace. This word holdeth up & quickeneth hearts. Also in the first book of the kings. Dominus mortificat & uivificat, 5deducit ad inferos & reducit That is to say, the lord mortifieth & quickeneth, he bringeth down to hell, & bringeth up again. By the one of these is signified contrition, and by the other is signified faith.