A22612:293
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.
It is a very great foolishness to wrest this word (pain) or (punishment) to these cold satisfactions and not to refer it to those horrible trou•les and fears of the conscience, of which David sayeth. Circundederunt me dolours mortis. &c. Deadly sorrows have compa•ed me room •e about. who is he that had not rather go seek the temple of saint James, or the church of S. Petre having a cote of mail, or else complete harness upon him: than to sustain that unspeakable violence of sorrow, which is even in mean persons, if there be true penance or repentance? 1But they say, it is convenient and sitting for the righteousness of god to punish sin. First in that they dispute, that it is convenient to punish sin: they declare sufficiently that they despise the benefit of Christ.2 God hath ordained and set a price for our since, which is not our own pains, ne our own satisfactions, but the death of his own son. What madness is it than I pray you, to prefer our own satisfactions before the satisfaction of Christ? Secondarily though god do punish sin never so much, yet we ought to think, that remission of sins is not due for cause of that punishment, for fear least we do injury to the benefit of Christ, and also ⟨image 130⟩because the conscience can not be made quiet, if remission should not chance or come freely. Finally though god punish never so much: yet those punishments do nothing at all appertain to the keys. These keys have no commandment, neither of laying on, neigh of remitting of those pains, which be the works of god.
It is a verie greate folyshnes to wre•te this worde (payne) or (punyshement) to these colde satisfactions and nat to referre it to those horri•le trou•les and feares of the conscience, of whiche Dauid saieth. Circūdederūt me dolores mortis. &c. Deadly sorowes haue compa•ed me roū •e aboute. who is he yt had nat rather go seke the temple of saynte Iames, or the churche of S. Petre hauynge a cote of mayle, orels complete harneys vpō him: thā to susteyne that vnspeakeable violence of sorowe, whiche is euen ī meane ꝑsones, if there be true penaūce or repētaūce?