A22612:358
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 both kinds to be given in the supper of the lord. ❧
❧ Of bothe kyndes to be gyuen in the souper of the lorde. ❧
IT can not be doubted, but that it is an holy thing, and agreeing to the institution of Christ, and to the words of Paul, to use both parts or kinds in the supper of the lord. For Christ did institute both parts / and he did institute them not for part of the church, but for the hole church. For not only priests, but the hole church useth the sacrament, and that by the authority of Christ, and not by the authority of man. And thꝭ we think that our adversaries do grant. Now if Christ did institute this sacrament for the hole church: why is the one kind taken away from part of the church? why is the use of the one kind forbidden? why is the ordinance of Christ changed? namely sith he himself doth call it his testament. That if it be not lawful to break the testament and last will of a man: much less it shall be lawful to break the testament of Christ. And Paul sayeth that he received of the lord,1 that which he taught. But he taught the use of both kinds as the text evidently showeth. Do this (sayeth he) first speaking of the body / afterward he repeateth the same words of the cup. And after he sayeth, let a man try and examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 2These be the words of one disposing and ordering. And he speaketh before, that they which should use the supper of the lord, should use it together in one company. Wherefore it is evident, that the sacrament was instituted for ⟨image 162⟩the hole church. And the use there of remaineth yet in some churches of the Greeks. And the same custom was sometime also in the latin churches, as Cyprian and Hierome do witness.* For thus sayeth Hierome upon the prophet Sophonie. Sacerdotes qui ucharistiae seruiunt & sanguinem domini populis dividunt. &c. The priests, which do serve the sacrament of the alter, which do divide the blood of the lord to the people. &c. The council of Toletane witnesseth the same. Neither shall it be any great mastery to gather a great heap of testimonies. Here we will not exaggerate ne amplify this thing we only leave it to the wise reader to be considered, what is to be thought of the ordinance of god. Our adversaries in the confutation do not go about to excuse the church, from whom the one part of the sacrament was taken away It became good and religious men to do thꝭ.