A22612:305
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.
The very sacraments therefore be Baptism, the Supper of the lord,1 Absolution, which is the sacrament of penance. For these rites or usages have for them the commandment of god / and have also added unto them a promise of grace, which is properly belonging to the new testament. For hearts ought surely and undoubtedly to believe, that when we be baptised / when we do eat the body of our lord / when we be assoiled, that god doth verily forgive us for Christs sake. And god doth also by the word & the ceremony move and stir the hearts to believe and to gather faith, as Paul saythe, •ides ex auditu. Fayth is by hearing. And likewise as the word runneth in to the ears that it may strike unto the hearts: even so the ceremony of it self runneth in to the eyes, to move and stir the hearts. The effect of the word and of the ceremony is all one, as it was full excellently said of saint Augustine, who saith, that a sacrament is a visible word,2 because the ceremony is received of the eyes, and is as it were a picture of the word, signifying the same thing, that the word doth signify. wherefore the effect of them both is all one.
The very sacramentes therfore be Baptisme, the Souper of the lorde,1 Absolution, whiche is the sacrament of penaunce. For these rytꝭ or vsages haue for them the cōmaundement of god / and haue also added vnto them a promyse of grace, whiche is proprely belongyng to the newe testamēt. For hertes ought surely and vndoubtedlye to beleue, that whan we be baptised / whan we do eate the bodye of oure lorde / whan we be assoyled, that god dothe verely forgyue vs for Christes sake. And god doth also by the worde & the ceremonie moue and styrre the hertes to beleue and to gather fayth, as Paule saythe, •ides ex auditu. Fayth is by hearynge. And lykewyse as the worde runneth in to the eares that it may stryke vnto the hertꝭ: euen so the ceremonie of it selfe runneth in to the iyes, to moue and styrre the hertes. The effecte of the worde and of the ceremonie is all one, as it was full excellently sayde of sayncte Augustine, who saythe, that a sacrament is a visible worde,2