A22612:297
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 in Jeremiah it is said, To whom there was no judgement they drinking shall drink. &c. As the prophets were slain, and John Baptiste, & other holy men. Wherefore afflictions be not always punishments for certain since done in times past, but they be works of god appointed to our utility and profit, and that the power of god should be the more showed, and the better seen & known in our infirmity. So Paul saith▪ The power of god is made perfect in mine infirmity and weakness. Therefore our bodies ought to be sacrifices or oblations, because of God's will and pleasure, to declare our obedience, and not to make recompense for eternal death, for which god hath another price, I mean the death of his son. And after this sentence & meaning doth Gregory interpret also that punishment of David,1 when he saith, If god for that sin had threatened that he should be so humbled of his son: ⟨image 132⟩why after that the sin was forgiven, did he fulfil that, which he had threatened? It is answered, that that forgiveness of sin was done, lest the man should be letted to receive eternal life. And that example of punishment threatened did follow, that the holiness of the man also in that humility or affliction might be exercised & proved. So also god did lay upon man death of the body, because of sin, and after the forgiveness of since, he hath not taken away death, for cause of justice to be exercised, that is to say, that the justice might be exercised & proved of them, which be sanctified. Neither be the common calamities and afflictions taken away properly by those works of canonical satisfactions, that is to wit, by those works of mens traditions, which they do say to be of such strength, by reason of the work that is wrought, that albeit they be done in deadly sin, yet they do redeem pains. And when that text of Paul is alleged, If we would judge our selves, we should not be judged and condemned of the lord: that word, judge, ought to be understanded of the hole repentance, and of the due fruits, and not of works, which be not due. Our adversaries be well punished for their despising of grammar, when they be brought in to this foul error▪ to understand that to judge, is as much to say, as to go in complete harness on pilgrimage to saint James, or to do such like works.