A22612:367
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.
1First of all, the book of Genesis teacheth, that men were created, that they should be fruitful, & that the man should desire the company of the woman, and contrariwise, by right reason. For we speak not of concupiscence, which is sin: but of that appetite, which should have ben in nature uncorrupted, which they call natural appetite. And this appetite is verily God's ordinance of the one kind or sex to the other. Now sith this ordinance of god can not be taken away without the singular and special work of god: it followeth, that the law of contracting of matrimony can not be taken away with statutes ⟨image 165⟩or vows.2 Our adversaries do make here a cavillation and say, that at the beginning of the world it was commanded, that the earth should be filled / but now the earth being full, they say that wedlock is not commanded. See how wisely they judge The nature of man is formed and created through that word of god, that it should be fruitful, not only in the beginning of creation, but so long as this nature of the bodies shall be, even likewise as the earth is made fruitful by virtue of thꝭ word Germinet terra herbam uirentem. 3Let the earth bring forth green grass. By thꝭ ordinance of god, the earth began not only at the beginning to bring forth grass, but yearly the fields be covered & vestured with grass▪ and shall be whiles the world and this nature of things shall continue and endure. Therefore likewise as by the laws of man the nature of the earth can not be changed: even so neither by vows, neither by any laws, may the nature of man be changed, without the special work of god.
1Fyrste of all, the booke of Genesis teacheth, that men were created, that they shulde be frutefull, & that the man shulde desyre the company of the woman, and contrarywyse, by ryght reason. For we speake not of concupiscence, whiche is synne: but of that appetite, which shuld haue ben in nature vncorrupted, whiche they call naturall appetite. And this appetite is verely goddes ordenaunce of the one kynde or sexe to the other. Nowe sythe this ordenaūce of god can not be taken away without the sīguler and special worke of god: it folowethe, that the lawe of contractynge of matrimonie can not be taken awaye with statutes