A22612:353
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.
For as much than as or adversaries do teach to put trust in the invocation of saints, when they have neither the word of god, neither example of the scripture / sith also they apply the merits of saints for other men, none otherwise than the merits of Christ, and do shift the honour due to Christ unto the saints: we can neither receive the opinions of them, concerning the worshipping of saints, neither their custom of invocation. For we know, that we must put our trust in the solicitation or intercession of Christ. For to this only is given the promise of god. We know that only Christs merits is a mercystocke for us, and for Christs merits we be counted righteous, wham we believe in him, as the text saith, All that trust in him, shall not be ashamed. Neither be we justified by trust of the merits of the blessed virgin, or of other saints.
For asmoche thā as or aduersaries do teache to put truste in the inuocation of sayntꝭ, whan they haue neyther the worde of god, neyther example of the scripture / syth also they apply the merites of sayntes for other men, none otherwyse than the merites of Christe, and do shyft the honour due to Christ vnto the saintes: we can neyther receyue the opinions of them, concernyng the worshyppyng of saintꝭ, neyther theyr custome of inuocation. For we knowe, that we must put our truste in the solicitation or intercession of Christ. For to this only is gyuen the promyse of god. We knowe that onely Christis merites is a mercystocke for vs, and for Christꝭ merites we be compted ryghtuous, whā we beleue in hym, as the text saythe, All that truste in hym, shall not be ashamed. Neither be we iustified by trust of the meritꝭ of the blessed virgin, or of other saintꝭ.
1Here also sticketh an error among learned men, that to every saint is committed his proper busyness or office, as that saint Anne should give riches / saint Sebastian should keep away the pestilence / saint Valentine should remedy ⟨image 158⟩the falling sickness / saint George should defend knights and horsemen. These persuasions undoubtedly have risen out of the examples of pagans and heathen people. For so among the Romans,