A22612:372
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.
1Fifthly, although our adversaries do not defend the law because of superstition, forasmuch as they see that it is not wont to be observed: yet nevertheless they sow superstitious opinions, whiles they pretend religion & holiness. They say that they require the single life, and abstaining from marriage, because it is purity & cleanness, as who should say, that marriage were uncleanness and sin. or as though single life did merit remission of since, and reconciliation / and wedlock did not so. And to this purpose they allege the ceremonies of Moses law / that sith in the law, during the time of their ministration, the priests were separated from their wives: much more in the new testament the priest forasmuch as he ought always to pray, ought always to contain & live chaste. This foolish & unmeet similitude is alleged as it were a demonstration and a most strong and evident proof, that priests ought never to marry. And yet in the similitude it self, wedlock is permitted and granted: only the use of the wife is forbidden, during the time of their ministry. And they be two sundry things, to pray and to minister. The holy ⟨image 169⟩men did pray even than also, when they did not exercise any public or open ministry or office. Neither did the companying with their wives let them that they might not pray. But we will answer in order to these feigned trifles and figments. First our adversaries must needs grant this, that wedlock is pure & clean in them, that do believe / because it is sanctified with the word of god, that is to say, it is a thing lawful & approved by the word of god, as the scripture copiously doth record. For Christ calleth wedlock God's joining or coupling together. when he saith,2 whom god hath joined together. And Paul saith of wedlock, of meats and like things, They be sanctified by word and prayer, that is, by the word, wherewith the conscience is made sure and out of doubt, that god doth approve and allow it, & by prayer, that is for to say, by faith, which useth it with giving of thanks, as the gift of god. Also in the first epistle to the Corinthians he saith:3 The unchristen husband is sanctified by the christen wife, &c. that is to say, the use and companying of them together is lawful & holy, because of the faith in Christ, as it is lawful to use meat and drink. &c.