A22612:264
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.
Let us therefore (o brethren) ⟨image 112⟩pray that answer may be made unto us, how great iniquities and since we have. Let us desire to have our since and trespasses showed unto us. Let us search and ransack our ways / and all our studies and all our jeopardies let us consider and ponder with diligent intention. Let every man say in his fear and dread, I shall go to the gates of hell, to the end we may now rest and comfort our selves in the only mercy of god. This is the true trust of man shrinking away from him self and leaning to his lord. This (I say) is the true trust, to which mercy is not denied, witnessing the Prophet in the psalm. The lord hath been weal pleased with them that fear him and in them which trust upon his mercy. And there is verily in us no little cause of fear and in him no little cause of trust. Thus far speaketh Bernard, whose sentence and mind we were therefore the more willing to report that the readers might see & perceive how we in thꝭ place do take faith to be meant of the hope of mercy which lifteth up and comforteth affrayed minds, which faith Bernard calleth right weal fiduciam that is to say trust. And this may be evidently seen, when there is made an antithesis or contention of terrors and of comforts. Likewise as Bernard here will that there be in men an acknowledging of since or contrition or terrors. And will also that there be added trust which may lift up and comfort us in contrition. But because our adversaries do here principally & expressly condemn us where we say that men by faith obtain remission of since: we will add a certain few probations ⟨image 113⟩by which it may be understanded that forgiveness of since do chance not by the work wrought for contrition, but by that especial faith, by which every person believeth that he is forgiven and pardoned of his since for Christs sake. For this is the principal article about which we do strive with our adversaries, and the knowledge whereof we think to be most necessary to all Christen men. But forasmuch as we seem to have spoken enough of the same thing before in the title of justification: therefore here we will be the shorter. For they be places very much like & as who would say, near cousins, the doctrine of repentance, and the doctrine of justification.
Let vs therfore (o bretherne) ⟨image 112⟩