A22612:348
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.
And the prophet Isaiah saith,1 In that day shall the root of Jesse stand as a mark and sign to the people / him shall the gentiles pray and beseech. And in the .4.3. psalm. Thy face shall all the rich men of the people make prayer unto. And in the .71. psalm. And all the kings of the earth shall worship him. And a little after. They shall pray in his sight continually. And Christ him self saith,2 That all men may honour the Son, ⟨image 156⟩likewise as they do honour the father. And Paul to the Thessalonians,3 in his prayer saith in this wise. And our lord Jesus Christ him self, & god our father exhort your hearts and establish you. &c. But of the invocation of saints, what commandment, or what example can our adversaries bring of the scriptures? The second thing that belongeth to a propitiator or mercy giver is that his merits be set forth, as which be given to other men by God's imputation, so that for them they be reputed righteous, as it were for their own merits. As for example, if one friend doth pay another's debts▪ the debtor is delivered by another mans merit, as though it were by his own. So the merits of Christ be given to us, that we might be reputed righteous by the trust of the merits of Christ, when we believe in him, as though we had merits of our own. And of both these two, that is to wit, of the promise, and of the giving of merits, there riseth trust of mercy. Such manner trust of God's promise, and also of the merits of Christ, ought to be brought with us when we intend to pray. For we ought to decree verily with our selves, both that our prayers be heard for Christs sake, and that by his merits we have the father appeased and reconciled.
And the prophete Esaie saythe,1 In that daye shall the roote of Iesse stande as a marke and signe to the people / hym shall the gentyles praye and beseche. And in the .4.3. psalme. Thy face shal all the ryche men of the people make prayer vnto. And in the .71. psalme. And all the kyngꝭ of the earthe shall worshyp hym. And a lytle after. They shall praye in his syght continually. And Christ hym selfe saythe,