A22612:263
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.
And to the intent that all the world may see how great is the ignorance of true piety and godliness in our controllers and judges, which wrote the confutation, we will add, also the sentence of saint Bernard, who even in likewise knitteth together in repentance these two members, contrition & faith as we do. These be his words in the thyrde sermone of the Annunciation. Auditā fa• mihi mane mī am tuam, 1quid in te sperdui dn̄e. Sola nimirū spes apud te miserationis locum obtinet, nec olcum minae, nisi in uase fidu•iae ponis. Sed ost infidelis fiducia, solius utique maledictionis ⟨image 112⟩capax, cum uidelicet in spe peceamus. Quan• nec fiducia illa dicenda si•, sed insensibilitas quaedam & dissimula•io perniciosa. Quae enim fiducia est ei quā periculū non attendit• au• quod ibi timoris remedium, ubi nec timor sentitur, nec materia ipsa timori• • fiducia solacium est, nec eget ille solatio, qui laetatur cum male fecerit, & in pessimis rebus magis exultat. Rogemus itaque (fratres) responderi nobis quantas habeamus iniquitates & peccata, scelera nostra & delicta• nobis desideremus ostendi. Scrutemur uias nostras & studia nostra, periculaque universa uigili intentione pen semus. Dicat quisque in pavore suo, uadam ad portas in feri, ut jam nō nisi in sola dei mina respiremꝭ. Haec uer•• hominis fiducia est a se deficientꝭ & innitentis domino suo. Haec inquam uer a fiducia est, cui misericordia non denegatur, propheta testante. Beneplacitū est domino super timentes eum, & in his qui sperant super misericordia eius. Nec parua utiq, suppetit nobis, in nobis quidem causa timoris, in ipso autem causa fiduciae .1. Lord let me hear thy mercy early in the morning, because I have trusted in thee. Undoubtedly only hope obtaineth place of mercy with thee. Neither dost thou put the oil of mercy but in the vessel of hope. But that is an unfaithful hope and a vessel apt & mete to receive malediction: when we do sin in hope. Howbeit that ought not to be called any hope or trust at all, but rather a certain insensibility, & a perilous dissimulation. For what trust hath he which regardeth not the jeopardy? Or what remedy of fear is there, where neither fear is felt, neither the matter it self and cause of fear? Trust is a comfort but he needeth no comfort which is merry when he hath done amiss, and rejoiceth in his ungracious facts.