The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

These religions of angels Paul doth greatly improve writing to the Colossians. For they do oppress the knowledge of Christ, when men do think, that they be reputed righteous for such manner observances, and not for Christs sake / they oppress also the knowledge of the commandments of god, when besides the precepts of god new ceremonies and services be devised, and preferred before the commandments of god. Wherefore these superstitious opinions, concerning single life, be diligently to be resisted, to the intent that both godly consciences may know what manner honours and service god doth approve. But in deed our adversaries do not require single life through any superstition. For they know that chastity is not wont to be kept. But they cloak their busyness with superstitious opinions, to the intent that they may beguile the simple and unlearned persons. They be therefore more worthy of hatred than the Encratites, which seem to have fallen in to error through a certain appearance of holiness. But these voluptuous fellows do purposely abuse the pretence of religion.

These religions of aungelles Paule dothe greately improue wryting to the Collossians. For they do oppresse the knoweledge of Christe, when men do thīke, that they be reputed ryghtuous for suche maner obseruaunces, and nat for Christꝭ sake / they oppresse also the knowlege of the cōmauddementes of god, whan besides the preceptꝭ of god newe ceremonies and seruices be deuised, and preferred before the cō maundementes of god. Wherfore these superstitious opinions, concernynge single lyfe, be diligently to be resisted, to thentent that both godlye consciences maye knowe what maner honours and seruice god dothe approue. But in dede oure aduersaries do not require single lyfe through any suꝑstition. For they know that chastitie is not wonte to be kepte. But they cloke theyr busynes with superstitious opinions, to the entent that they maye begyle the simple and vnlerned ꝑsones. They be therfore more worthye of hatered than the Encratites, whiche seme to haue fallen in to errour thrughe a certeyne apparaunce of holynes. But these voluptuous felowes do purposely abuse the pretence of religion.

¹Sixthly, though we have so many causes of disproving the law of perpetual abstinence from marriage: yet besides these causes there be many jeopardies of souls and open slanders and occasions of hurt, which, although the law were not unrighteous, yet it ought to fear away good men from the approving of such manner of burden, which hath destroyed innumerable souls. All good men have complained long of this burden, as well for their own cause, as for other mens cause, whom they did see to be in jeopardy. But these complaints no bishops do hear. And it is not unknown, how greatly this law doth hurt the common and public manners, what vices, what ungracious kinds of lechery it hath engendered and brought up. There be yet remaining the Roman satires. In these satires, Rome even these days also doth know and espy her manners touched. Thus god avengeth and punisheth the contempt and despising of his gift, and of his ordinance in those persons, which forbid wedlock. And sith in other laws the custom hath ben to change them, if evident utility have so required: why do they not the same in this law, in which there be so many weighty causes running together (namely these last days) why it ought to be changed? Nature waxeth old & is made daily weaker and weaker, and vices do increase / wherefore the remedies taught and given by god were the more to be used. We see what vice god doth accuse before the flood / what vice he doth accuse before the burning of the five Cities / Like vices have gone before the destructions