A22612:319
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.
After that this semblance of wisdom and justice hath beguiled men: than afterwards ensue infinite hurts / the gospel is defaced, concerning the justice of faith in Christ / & there succeedeth in the stead thereof a vain trust and confidence in such manner works. Afterwards the commandments of god be defaced / and these works do challenge to them selves the title of perfect and spiritual life, and be far preferred before the works of the commandment of god / as works of every mans calling / the administration of the common weal / the administration of household / the life of married folks / the bringing up of children. These things in comparison of those ceremonies be judged to be unholy and profane things / in so much that many men do exercise these things with a certain doubtfulness and grudge of conscience. For it is undoubtedly known, that many men have forsaken the administration and governance of the ⟨image 144⟩common weal, and also have forsaken wedlock▪ and have taken them selves to these observances, as unto better and more holy things. Neither is this yet enough, but also when this persuasion is ones fixed in mens minds, that such manner observances be necessary to justification: the consciences be sore vexed and troubled, because they can not perfectly fulfil all observances. For what man is a•le to number them all? There be books out of number, yea hole libraries, which do contain never one syllable of Christ, or of the faith in Christ, nor of the good works belonging to every mans vocation: but only do gather traditions, and the interpretations or glosses of them / by which interpretations sometime they be made more grievous / & sometime they be released and made more easy. Howe sore is that good man Gerson troubled,1 whiles he seeketh the degrees, and the breadth of the commandments. And yet nevertheless he can not set an Epikee or temperament in a degree certain. In the mean season he doth sore lament and bewail the jeopardies of godly consciences, which this bitter interpretation of traditions doth engender.
After that this semblaunce of wysedome and iustice hath begyled men: than afterwardes ensue infinite hurtes / the gospell is defaced, concernynge the iustice of faythe in Christe / & there succedeth in the steade therof a vayne truste and confidence in suche maner workes. Afterwardes the cōmaundementes of god be defaced / and these workes do chalēge to them selues the title of perfecte and spirituall lyfe, and be farre preferred before the workꝭ of the cōmaundement of god / as workes of euerye mannes callynge / the administration of the comen weale / the administratiō of household / the lyfe of maryed folkes / the bryngyng vp of chyldren. These thynges in comparison of those ceremonies be iudged to be vnholy and prophane thyngꝭ / in so moche that many men do exercise these thyngꝭ with a certeyn doubtfulnes and grudge of conscience. For it is vndoubtedly knowne, that many men haue forsaken the administration and gouernaūce of the