A22612:307
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 .xiiij. article,1 in which we say, that the administrations of the sacraments, & of the word in the congregation, is to be gram ted unto no man onles he be in due form & manner called: they do receive, upon the condition that we do use canonical ordination or giving of orders. Concerning this matter we have in this assemble oftentimes openly witnessed, that we do with all our hearts desire to keep the ecclesiastical order and discipline, and the degrees in the church, even those that be made also by mans authority. For we do know, that for a good and a profitable intent and purpose the ecclesiastical discipline was ordained by the fathers, after such manner and fashion as the old ancient canons do describe. But the bishops either do compel our priests to caste away and to condemn this kind of doctrine, which we have confessed & acknowledged, or else if they refuse so to do, they do with marvellous strange cruelty such as hath not ben heard, kill the silly pore men and that guiltless. These causes do let that our priests can not know these men for bishops. So the cruelty of bishops is the cause, wherefore ⟨image 139⟩the canonical order or discipline is some where dissolved, and not observed, which we did greatly desire to keep. Advise them, how they will make accounts to god, for that they do in thꝭ wise dissever and dissipate the church. Our consciences in this matter be clean out of danger and jeopardy. For sith we know our confession to be true, godly, and catholic: we ought not to approve the cruelty of them, which do persecute this doctrine. And we know that the church is among those▪ which teach the word of god well & truly▪ and which minister the sacraments well and duly: and not among them, which not only with their decrees go about to put away the word of god, but also slay them that teach well and truly. To whom yea doing any thing contrary to the canons, yet the very canons them selves be a great deal more gentle and favourable. And here again we do openly make protestation, that we shall gladly observe and keep the order & discipline of the church, and of the canons, upon condition that the bishops cease to rage and use this cruelty against our congregations.