A22612:291
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.
These things Christ doth call unprofitable honours or services, wherefore they help not to pacify the wrath of god so as our adversaries do say. And yet these works be adourne•s,1 et forthe and garnished with goodly and gay titles, they be called the works of supererogation, they be had in high honour and be recou•pted the price and ransom of everlasting death. Thus they be preferred before the works of the commandments of god. By reason whereof the law of god is t•o ways dishonoured, both because it re•eneth that the law of god is satisfied & fulfilled by outward ⟨image 129⟩& civil works, and also because there be added traditions of men, the works of which traditions be preferred before the works of God's law. Furthermore repentance and grace be thereby defaced. For eternal death is not redeemed with that idle recompense of works and which as yet feeleth neither tasteth the power of death. Another thing is to be set against death when it assaileth us. For likewise as the wrath of god is overcome by faith in Christ: even so is death overcome by faith in Christ, as Paul sayeth. Thanks be to god, which giveth unto us victory by our lord Jesus Christ. He sayeth not which giveth to us victory, if we do set against death our satisfactions. Our adversaries do handle idle phantasies of the remission of the guilt or sin, but they see not in what wise ne how in the remission of the guilt the heart is delivered from the wrath of god, & from eternal death,2 through faith in Christ. Sith than the death of Christ is satisfaction for eternal death, and also sith our adversaries them selves do grant that those works of satisfactions be works not due, but works of mens traditions, of which Christ sayeth▪ that they be unprofitable honours or services: we may boldly and safely affirm, that papistical satisfactions be not necessary by God's law to the remission of the guilt, or to the releasing of the pain of Purgatory.
These thingꝭ Christ doth cal vnprofitable honours or serucies, wherfore they helpe nat to pacifie the wrathe of god so as our aduersaries do say. And yet these workes be adournes,