A22612:371
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.
1Fourthly the law of the bishop of Rome disagreeth also from the canons of the councils. For the old canons do not prohibit wedlock, neither do they break or depart wedlock already contracted, Albeit they do remove them from ministration, which have made contract in the time that they were in ministry. And this removing of them from administration was at those times in stead of a benefit. But the new canons, which were not made in the counsels, but by the private will of popes: both do prohibit to con tract matrimony, & also do dissolve & break those, which were already contracted. And this appeareth evidently to be contrary to the commandment of Christ, which saith: Whom god hath joined let no man depart in sunder. Our adversaries cry out in the confutation,2 that to live single without wives is commanded by the councils. We do not accuse the the decrees of the councils. For these decrees under a certain condition do permit wedlock / but we do accuse the laws, which the bishops of Rome have made since the old general councils, contrary to the authority ⟨image 168⟩[…] ⟨image 168⟩[…] ⟨image 169⟩of the said councils. Thus do the bishops of Rome despise the authorities of the councils, which they will that other men should think to be most holy & inviolable. This law therefore of perpetual abstaining from marriage is only the law of this new domination of the pope. And that not without a cause. For Daniel giveth this mark and token to the kingdom of Antichrist, that they shall contemn women.
1Fourthly the law of the byshop of Rome disagreeth also from the canones of the councels. For the olde canones do not prohibite wedlocke, neyther do they breake or departe wedlocke alredye contracted, Albeit they do remoue them from ministration, whiche haue made contracte in the tyme that they were in ministerie. And this remouyng of them from administration was at those tymes in steade of a benefite. But the newe canones, whiche were not made in the coūsels, but by the priuate wyll of popes: bothe do prohibite to cō tracte matrimonie, & also do dissolue & breake those, whiche were alredye contracted. And this appereth euidently to be contrary to the cōmaundemente of Christe, whiche saythe: Whom god hath ioyned let no man departe in sondre. Our aduersaries cry out in the confutation,