The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

IN the .xv. article, they receive the first part, in which we say that those rites and ceremonies in the church are to be observed, which may be observed with out any sin, and which help to the keeping of tranquillity and good order in the church. The second part they utterly condemn, in which we say, that mans traditions instituted to appease god, to merit grace / and to satisfy for since be contrary to the gospel. Albeit in our confession concerning the choice of meats, we have spoken many things enough of traditions: yet this notwithstanding certain things shall here briefly be repeated. For although we thought, that our adversaries would for other causes defend the traditions of men: yet we did not think, that ever they would have condemned this our article / which is. That we deserve not forgiveness of sins, or grace through the observing of mens traditions. Sith therefore this article is condemned: we have an easy and a plain cause. Now our adversaries do openly play the Jews, and do openly oppress the gospel with devilish doctrines. For than doth the scripture call traditions the doctrines of devils: when it is taught, that they be services profitable to deserve remission of since, and grace. For then they endymme the gospel, they minish the benefit of Christ they annul the justice of faith. The gospel teacheth us, that we through faith for Christs sake freely receive remission of sins, and be reconciled to god. Our adversaries contrary wise make another mediator, that is to wit ⟨image 140⟩these traditions. For the traditions sake, they will obtain remission of sins, by these they will appease the wrath of god. But Christ saith openly, They honour me in vain with the commandments of men. We have herebefore largely disputed, that men be justified through faith, when they believe that they have god pacified, not for our works, but freely for Christ. This is undoubtedly the doctrine of the gospel, for Paul saith plainly to the Ephesians,¹ Ye be freely saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of god, and cometh not of men. Now our adversaries say, that men deserve remission of since by these humane observances. What other thing is this, than besides Christ to set up another justifier, another mediator?

IN the .xv. article, they receyue the fyrste parte, in which we say that those rites and ceremonies in the churche are to be obserued, which may be obserued with out any syn, and whiche helpe to the keping of tranquilite and good ordre in the churche. The seconde parte they vtterly condempne, in which we say, that mans traditions instituted to appeace god, to merite grace / and to satisfy for synnes be contrary to the gospell. Albeit in our confession cōcernyng the choyse of meares, we haue spoken many thynges ynough of traditions: yet this natwithstāding certayne thingꝭ shal here brefly be repeted. For although we thought, that our aduersaries wolde for other causes defende the traditions of men: yet we dyd nat thynke, that euer they wolde haue cōdempned this our article / whiche is. That we deserue nat forgiuenes of sīnes, or grace through the obseruyng of mennes traditions. Syth therfore thys article is condempned: we haue an easy and a playne cause. Now our aduersaries do openly play the Iewes, and do openly oppresse the gospell with deuillyshe doctrines. For than dothe the scripture call tradicions the doctrines of deuyls: whē it is taught, that they be seruices profitable to deserue remissiō of synnes, and grace. For then they endymme the gospel, they minishe the benefite of Christ they annulle the iustice of faythe. The gospel teacheth vs, that we through faythe for Christes sake frely receiue remission of sinnes, and be recōciled to god. Our aduersaries cōtrary wyse make another mediatour, that is to wete