A22612:327
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.
Julian the apostate,1 Celsus, and very many other have objected against christen men, that the gospel doth destroy common weals / because it doth forbid vengeance / and doth teach certain other things nothing mete ne agreeing to the civil society and fellowship. And these questions have marvellously troubled Origen, Gregory Nazanzen, & other, when verily they easily may be dissolved, if we do know, that the gospel giveth no laws concerning the civil state, but that it is forgiveness of since & a beginning or in choation of eternal life in the hearts of all believers. But as for outward orders of common weals it doth not only approve them, but also doth make us subject unto them. Likewise as we be necessarily subject to the laws of times to the change of winter and summer, as unto the ordinances of god. The gospel doth forbid private vengeance.* And this thing for this purpose Christ doth so often inculcate and repeat: that the apostles should not think ⟨image 148⟩that they ought to take away the empire from them, which held it / so as the Jews did dream of the kingdom of Messiah, but that they should know that they ought to teach and preach of the spiritual kingdom, and not to change the civil estate. So than private vengeance is forbidden, not by counsel, but by precept and commandment, in the .v. chapter of Matthew, and in the .xij. to the Romans. The common vengeance or punishment, which is done by the office of the governor is not for bid ne dissuaded: but is commanded, and is the work of god, according to the saying of Paul in the .xiij. chapter to the Romans. And certain kinds of public vengeance be the judgements, punishments, wars, and battles. Of these things, how evil many writers have judged, it is evident and plain / for they have been in this error and wrong opinion, that the gospel is a certain new outward and monastical policy or order of a common weal / and they did not see, that the gospel doth bring eternal justice to the hearts, and outwardly doth approve the civil estate. This also is a very false lye, that it is christen perfection, not to keep any thing proper. For the christen perfection doth not stand in the contempt and despising of civil ordinances:
Iuliane the apostata,1