A22612:368
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.
1Secondarily, because this creation or ordinance of god in man, is the law of nature: therefore the men of law have said very well and wisely, that the coupling of man and woman together is of the law of nature. Now sith the law of nature is immutable and can not be changed: it followeth necessarily, that the power and liberty to contract matrimony doth always remain & abide. For when nature is not changed, that ordinance also must needs remain, which god gave unto nature, neither can it be taken away by any mans laws. That therefore is but ⟨image 166⟩a foolish saying, which our adversaries after their trifling manner do say, that wedlock was commanded at the beginning, but it is not commanded now. This is even like wise as if they should say, In old time men, wham they were borne, brought with them in to the world the natural appetite & their sex or kind, but now they do not so. In old time wham they were borne, they brought with them the law of nature, now they do not so. No workman could ever desire or imagine any thing more craftily, and like a crafts man, than these foolish trifles have ben imagined to elude and avoid the law of nature. Let this thing therefore abide stable & steadfast in this cause, which both the scripture teacheth, & the man of law hath wisely spoken, tha• the joining together of man and woman is the law of nature. But the law of nature is in deed the law of god. For it is an ordinance imprinted by god in nature. And because this law can not be changed without the special work of god: it is necessary and can not be avoided, but that power & liberty to contract matrimony must needs abide. For that natural appetite is the ordinance of god in nature of one kind or sex to an other, and therefore it is right and law, for else why should both kinds be created? And we speak (as it was said before) not of concupiscence, which is sin: but of that appetite, which they call natural love or affection, which love concupiscence hath not taken out of nature, but rather doth kindle it / so that now it hath more need of remedy / and wedlock is now necessary, not only because of ⟨image 166⟩procreation, but also because of remedy. These things be clear & evident, and so sure and strong, that they can be by no means avoided. ❧ ❧ ❧