A22612:316
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 what need many words in a thing that is manifest and open? If our adversaries do defend these honourings invented by men,* as things deserving justification, grace, and remission of since, they do plainly build up the kingdom of Antichrist. For the kingdom of Antichrist is a new manner of honouring devised by the authority of man, rejecting Christ, Likewise as the kingdom of Mahomete hath honourings, hath works, by which it will be justified before god, and doth not think that men be justified in the sight of god freely through faith for Christs sake. So also the papacy shall be a part of Antichrist's kingdom, if it doth so defend worshippings invented by men, that they do justify. For the honour and prerogative of Christ is abridged, when they teach, that we be not freely justified through faith for Christs sake, but by such manner observances. And namely when they teach, that such manner observances and ceremonies be not only profitable, but also necessary to justification / as their opinion was herebefore in the .viii. article, where they condemn us, because we said that it is not necessary to the unity of the church, that there be in all places like and ⟨image 142⟩one manner observances and ceremonies instituted by men. Daniel the prophet signifieth and giveth knowledge, that new fashions of worships invented by men,2 shall be the very form and state of Antichrist's kingdom. For thus he saith, He shall honour the god Maosis in his own place, 3and the god, which his fathers never knew: shall he worship with gold and silver, and precious stones. Here he describeth new fashions of honouring god, for he saith, that such manner god is worshipped as the fathers have not known. For albeit that the holy fathers also have had ceremonies and traditions: yet they did not think, that these things be profitable or necessary •o justification, they did not minish the glory & the benefit of Christ, but they taught that we be justified through faith for Christs sake, and not for those humane traditions and ceremonies. But they did observe the traditions of men for a corporal utility that the people should know, what time they ought to come together / and that all things should be done orderly and sadly in the churches, because of example.