A22612:330
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.
❧ Of freewill. ❧
❧ Of frewyll. ❧
The .xviij. article concerning freewill our adversaries do receive,1 howbeit they add authorities and testimonies little mete or agreeing to that matter, they add also a declamation, that we ought not to extol ne magnify freewill overmuch with the Pelagians, neither yet to take away all manner liberty from it with the Manichees. Gaily well said forsooth, but what difference is there betwixt the Pelagians and our adversaries: ⟨image 150⟩sith it is so, that they both do think, that men may without the holy ghost, both love god, & fulfil the commandments of god / as touching to the substance of the acts or deeds, & merit grace and justification with works / which reason by her self doth work without the holy ghost. Howe many foolish and inconvenient things do ensue of these Pelagianical opinions, which be taught with great authority in schools? These opinions Augustine following saint Paul, doth vehemently confute, whose sentence & mind we have recited here before in the article of justification. Neither do we take away liberty from mans will. Mans will hath liberty in choosing of works or things, which reason doth comprehend and perceive by her self. Mans will may some manner way work civil justice or the justice of works / it may speak of god / it may give unto god certain honour or service with the outward work, it may obey governors and rulers / it may obey father and mother, in choosing of the out ward work / it may hold her hands from murder / from adultery / from theft. Sith there is left in the nature of man reason and judgement of things sensible: there is left also a choice of these things, and a liberty and power to work civil justice. For y• doth the scripture call the justice of the flesh: which justice carnal nature, that is to say, reason doth work by her own self, without the holy ghost / howbeit the strength of concupiscence is so great, that men do more often obey and follow lewd affections, than the right judgement. And the devil, who hath