A22612:266
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.
1Secondarily we suppose, that our adversaries do grant that remission of since is either part, or the end, or terminus ad quē (as they use to speak) of penance or repentance, ergo that thing, whereby remission of since is received, is of right added to the parts of penance. But most certain it is & most undoubted although all the gates of hell would ⟨image 114⟩cry against it, that remission of since can not be received but only by faith, which believeth that sins be forgiven for Christs sake, according to that saying of Paul to the Romans, whom god hath set forth a propitiator, by faith in the blood of him. Also in the fifth to the Romans. By whom we have way through faith into grace. &c. For the troubled & arraryed co•icence can not plead nor lay against the wrath of god their own works, or love, but so is only the conscience made quiet, when it receiveth the mediator Christ, and believeth the promises given for his sake, for they do not perceive, what remission of since is, or how it cometh to us: which dream, that hearts be set at peace without faith in Christ. Peter allegeth out of Isaiah this saying. whosoever shall believe in him shall not be confounded or ashamed ▪ Wherefore hypocrites must never be confounded which trust that they receive remission of since for their own works and not for Christs sake. And Peter saith in the acts. To him all the prophets bear witness that all which believe in him do receive remission of since through his name.2 It could not be spoken more manifestly than y• he saith (through his name) And he addeth (all that believe in him). We do only therefore thus receive remission of since, through the name of Christ, that is to wit, for Christs sake▪ and not for any merits or works of our own And this is so done when we believe that since be forgiven us for Christs sake.3 Our adversaries cry out that they be the church & that they do follow the consent of the church. But Peter here in this our cause allegeth ⟨image 114⟩