A22612:298
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.
To judge, signifieth hole repentance, it signifieth to condemn since. This condemnation is truly done in contrition, and in the changing of life. The hole penance, that is to say, contrition, ⟨image 133⟩faith, and good fruits, do obtain, that punishments, & the common & private calamities be mitigated, as Isaiah teacheth, saying: Cease to do evil, 1and learn to do well &c. If ••ti• since be as purple: they shall be made as white as snow. If ye will, and shall hear me, ye shall eat the fruits of the earth. Neither is that most weighty and most wholesome sentence to be translated from hole repentance, and from works due, and by god commanded: and to be applied unto satisfactions, and works of mens traditions. And it is profitable to teach this, that the common punishments be mitigated by our repentance, and by the true fruits of repentance, by good works wrought of faith, & not as these men do feign, wrought in deadly sin. And to this purpose appertaineth the ensample of the Ninevites, which with their penance (we mean of hole penance) were reconciled unto god, and did obtain, that the city should not be destroyed. And as touching to that that general councils have made Canons, and that the fathers make mention of satisfaction: we have said here before, that it was an ecclesiastical discipline, instituted and ordained because of example. Neither did they rhynke that this discipline is necessary to the remission either of the sin, or else of the punishment. For if any among them have made mention of Purgatory,2 they mean not that it is a compensation of eternal pain, nor that it is a satisfaction: but a purging of unperfect souls▪ like as Augustine doth say, that venial since be burnt,3 that is to say, distrust toward god, and other like affections be mortified. ⟨image 133⟩Some times writers do translate the name of satisfaction from the very rites or spectacles, to signify true mortification. So saith Augustine,