A22612:345
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.
Moreover this we grant also,1 that angels do pray for us / for there is an authority in the first of Zechariah, where the angel doth pray in this wise. Lord of arms how long wi•t thou not have mercy of Jerusalem &c. As concerning saints, though we do grant, that likewise as when they be alive they do pray for the hole church in general, even so in heaven they do pray for the church in general. Yet there is no authority ne testimony in the scriptures of dead men praying, only that dream excepted, which is taken forth of the second book of the Maccabees. ❧ ❧ ❧
Moreouer this we graunt also,1 that aungelles do praye for vs / for there is an authoritie in the fyrste of Zacharie, where the aungel dothe pray in this wyse. Lorde of armes howe longe wi•t thou nat haue mercy of Hierusalem &c. As concernyng sayntꝭ, though we do graunte, that lykewyse as when they be alyue they do praye for the hole churche in generall, euen so in heuen they do pray for the churche in generall. Yet there is no authoritie ne testimonie ī the scriptures of deade men prayeng, only that dreame excepted, which is takē forthe of the secoūde boke of the Machabies. ❧ ❧ ❧
- 1Angels pray for us.Angels praye for vs.
But though it were so that saints pray never so much for the church: yet it followeth not that they be to be called upon, and prayed unto. Howbeit our confession doth only affirm this, that the scripture doth not teach the invocation of saints, or to desire help of saints. But forasmuch as neither commandment, neither promise, neither example of praying to saints can be brought or alleged out of the scriptures: it followeth that the conscience can have no certainty ne any assurance concerning that invocation. And sith it is so, that prayer ought to be made with faith: how do we know, that god doth accept and allow that invocation? Whereby know we without the testimony of scripture, that saints do understand and know the prayers and petitions of every particular person? Some men do make of the saints utterly very gods, giving unto them, that they do see the secrete thoughts of the minds in us. They dispute of the morrow tide knowledge, and the eventide knowledge, peradventure because they do doubt, whether they do hear in the morowtyde, or else in the eventide. These things they do imagine, not to the intent to put the saints to worship: but to defend worshipful gains, which come by the worshipping of saints. Our adversaries can bring nothing against this reason, that in as much as invocation of saints hath no testimony of the word of god: it can not be affirmed, that saints do understand & know our invocation & prayer / or though they do know it never so much, that god doth allow it. Wherefore our adversaries ought not