A22612:287
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 many arguments may be gathered, that these sayings in scripture do in no manner wise appertain to the scholastical satisfactions. These schoolmen do feign that satisfactions be works not due. Now the scripture in these te•tes doth require works which be due. For this saying of Christ, Do ye penance, ⟨image 126⟩is a saying of commandment.1 Also our adversaries do write, that he which maketh his confession, if he do refuse to receive the satisfactions, commonly called penance, he doth not sin, but he shall suffer the pains in Purgatory. But these sentences or texts without doubt be sentences appertaining unto this life, Do ye penance, Do ye worthy fruits of penance, Give your members to do service unto righteousness: Ergo, they can not be wrested and applied to satisfactions, which may lawfully be refused. For it is not lawful to refuse the precepts of god.2 Thirdly, Indulgences or pardons do release those satisfactions, as the chapitre Cum er eo doth teach. But indulgences do not loose us from these precepts, Do ye penance: Do ye the worthy fruits of penance. Wherefore it is manifest, that those sayings of scripture be evil applied to canonical satisfactions. Consider moreover, what ensueth, if the pains of Purgatory be satisfactions or satispassions (as they call them) or if satisfactions be a redeeming of the pains of Purgatory: do these sentences also command, that souls should be punished in Purgatory? Sith this doth necessarily follow of the opinion of our adversaries: these sentences, Do ye worthy fruits of penance / and Do ye penance, must be interpreted after another manner, than in this wise: Suffer ye the pains of Purgatory after this life. But I am weary to confute these peevish imaginations of our adversaries, with any mo words. For this is certain and undoubted, that the scripture doth speak of works that be due, of the hole newness of ⟨image 127⟩life, and not of these obseruyngꝭ of works not due, whereof our adversaries speak. And yet with these feigned imaginations the orders of friars do defend the selling of masses, and infinite observances, that is to wit, because they be works satisfying, if not for the offence or sin, yet at least for the pain or punishment of sin. For as much therefore as the scriptures alleged do not say, that eternal pains ought to be redeemed with works not due: