A22612:366
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.
we hope that ye will in this cause deal gently with us, namely after that ye shall know that we have most weighty causes for the maintenance of our sentence & opinion taken out of the word of god / against which our adversaries do set most trifling and most vain persuasions. And yet they do not defend single life earnestly. For they know, how few of them do keep chastity, but they cloak their kingdom with a colour and semblance of religion / to the which kingdom of theirs, they do reckon single life to be very profitable. / so that now we may perceive that Peter gave warning very well, that in time to come false prophets should deceive men with feigned words. For our adversaries nothing say, nothing write, nothing do in all this hole cause, truly, simply, plainly, & charitably, but in very deed they strive about ⟨image 165⟩their lordship and kingdom, which they do falsely suppose to be in jeopardy, and this they go about to fortify and maintain under the wicked pretence and colour of virtue and holiness. But we in no wise can approve this law of living single & without wives, which our adversaries do so greatly defend, because it is repugnant to the law of god, to the law of nature, and disagreeing from the very canons of the councils. And undoubted it is also, that it is superstitious and perilous. For it engendereth infinite slanders, since, and corrupting of the public manners. Other of our controversies do require some disputation of learned men. In this matter the thing is so manifest on both sides, that it needeth no disputation at all: only it requireth a judge, that is a good man, & which feareth god. And notwithstanding that we defend the manifest verity: yet our adversaries have devised certain cavillations to mock out our arguments.
we hope that ye wyll in this cause deale gentely with vs, namely after that ye shall knowe that we haue mooste wayghtye causes for the mayntenaūce of our sentence & opinion taken out of the worde of god / agaynst whiche oure aduersaries do set moste tryfelynge and most vayne persuations. And yet they do not defende single lyfe earnestely. For they knowe, howe fewe of them do kepe chastitie, but they cloke their kyngdome with a colour and semblaunce of religion / to the whiche kyngdome of theyrs, they do reken single lyfe to be very profitable. / so that now we may perceyue that Peter gaue warnynge very well, that in tyme to come false prophetes shulde deceyue men with fayned wordes. For our aduersaries nothynge say, nothyng wryte, nothyng do in all this hole cause, truely, simply, playnly, & charitablye, but in verye dede they stryue aboute