A22612:270
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.
Likewise as the Jews did look upon the covered face of Moses, For admit that we had love, let us imagine that we had works: yet can neither love, neither works be a price, ransom, or propitiation for sin. Neither can they be set and pleaded, as it were in bar, against the wrath and judgement of god, according to that saying of David in the psalm: Thou shalt not enter in to judgement with thy servant: for no creature living shall be justified in thy sight. Neither ought the honour of Christ to be plucked from him, & given to our works. For these causes Paul doth stiffly affirm, that we be not justified by the law, and he setteth against the law, the promise of remission of since, which is given for Christs sake, and reacheth us, that we freely for Christs sake through faith receive remission of sins. To this promise Paul doth call us back from the law, Upon this promise be biddeth us steadfastly to behold, which doubtless shall be void and of no strength, if we be justified before by the law, or ever we be justified by the promise, or if we obtain remission of since for our own justice. But the case is clear, that therefore the promise was made unto us, and therefore Christ was given to us,1 because we can not work and fulfil the law. wherefore it is necessary, that we be first reconciled ⟨image 117⟩by the promise, or ever we do work the law. But the promise is only received by faith, Ergo it is necessary, that contrite persons do by faith receive the promise of remission of since, which is given for Christs sake, and that they do decree with them selves, that they have the father reconciled unto them selves freely for Christs sake. This is the sentence and mind of Paul in the epistle to the Romans▪ where he saith: Therefore by faith, that according to grace or favour, 2the promise might be firm and stable. And to the Galatians he saith:3 The scripture hath concluded all things under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe, that is to say, All men be under sin, & can not otherwise be delivered, onles by faith they do take and receive the promise of remission of since.