A22612:344
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.
Our confession doth allow the honours of saints. For these three manners of honour are to be allowed and commended. The first is giving of thanks / for we ought to give thanks ⟨image 154⟩to god, that he hath showed examples of mercy, that he hath given us knowledge that he is willing to save men, that he hath given doctors / or other gifts to the church. And these gifts (as they be are very great) so they be to be amplified and extolled, and the saints them selves be to be praised, which did use these gifts faithfully / even as Christ doth commend the faithful merchants and occupiers of the talents delivered to them. The second manner of worship is the confirmation of our faith, as when we see, that to Peter is forgiven the denying of his master: we also be comforted and lift up to believe the rather that grace is far above sin. The third honour is, the Imitation and following, first of their faith, and then of their other virtues, which every one ought to follow according to his calling. These true honours our adversaries do not require / but only about invocation and praying unto them they brawl and chide, which although it had no jeopardy in it, yet it is not necessary. ❧ ❧
Our confession dothe allowe the honours of sayntes. For these thre maners of honour are to be allowed and cōmended. The fyrste is giuing of thankes / for we ought to gyue thankꝭ ⟨image 154⟩to god, that he hath shewed exāples of mercy, that he hathe gyuen vs knowledge that he is wyllyng to saue men, that he hathe gyuen doctours / or other gyftꝭ to the church. And these gyftes (as they be are verie greate) so they be to be amplified and extolled, and the sayntes them selues be to be praysed, whiche dyd vse these gyftes faythfully / euen as Christ dothe cōmende the faythful marchaūtes and occupiers of the talentes deliuered to them. The secounde maner of worshyp is the cōfirmation of our faythe, as when we se, that to Peter is forgyuen the denieng of hys mayster: we also be comforted and lyfte vp to beleue the rather that grace is farre aboue synne. The thyrde honour is, the Imitation and folowyng, fyrste of theyr faythe, and then of theyr other vertues, whiche euery one ought to folowe accordyng to his callyng. These true honours our aduersaries do nat requyre / but onely aboute inuocation and prayeng vnto thē they braule and chyde, whiche although it had no ieoꝑdy in it, yet it is nat necessary. ❧ ❧