A22612:279
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.
Therefore I pronounce the to be righteous, when thou dost condemn & punish us / I pronounce that thou haste the victory, when hypocrites do judge the that thou art unrighteous, because thou dost punish or condemn them well deserving it / yea more over our merits can not be set against thy ju•gement, but in such wise we shall be justified, if thou dost justify us, if thou dost repute us justified through thy mercy. Peradventure sum man will allege James who sayeth,1 confess your since one of you to another. But he speaketh not here of confession to be made to the priests: but in a generality of the reconciling of brethren among them selves / for he biddeth confession to be made of each to other. Furthermore our adversaries shall condemn many of the most approved authors, if they will contend that the rehearsal of since in confession is necessary by God's law. For although we do approve confession and do judge that a certain examination is profitable to the intent that men may be the better instructed and taught: yet nevertheless the thing is in such wise to be moderated and measured, that consciences be not tangled and snarled / which undoubtedly shall never be quiet, if they should think, that they can not obtain remission of sins, onles they make that scrupulous and just rehearsal of since. That saying doubtless is very false, which our adversaries have put in the confutation, that an hole and perfect confession is necessary to salvation. For such confession is unpossible. And ⟨image 122⟩I pray you what snares caste they here upon the conscience, when they require a hole & perfect confession? In the books of doctors of the church, mention is made of confession, but they do not speak of this reckoning up of secrete since:2 but of the ceremonies and manner of open penance. For because that sinners, and persons of evil fame were not received again in to the church without certain satisfaction: therefore such manner persons made confession unto the priests, to the intent that according to the quantity of their offences, satisfactions might be enjoined unto them. All this matter is no point like to this reckoning up of since, whereof we now speak.
Therfore I pronounce the to be rightuous, when thou doste condempne & punyshe vs / I pronoūce that thou haste the victorie, whē hypochrites do iudge the that thou arte vnrightuous, because thou doste punyshe or condempne thē wel deseruyng it / yea more ouer our merites can nat be sette agaynste thy iugement, but in suche wyse we shalbe iustified, if thou doste iustify vs, if thou dost repute vs iustified through thy mercye. Perauenture sūme man wyll alledge Iamys who sayeth,