A22612:379
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.
but in this one law of abstaining from marriage, they he as hard hearted as iron, and will not be entreated, albeit every man knoweth, that it is only mans law. And this self same law they do now aggravate and make more strait many ways. The can on law biddeth to suspend priests, the bishops being cruel interpreters of the law, do suspend them not from their office, but they hang them up by the necks upon trees. They kill many good men cruelly, only because of marriage. And these self murders do show and declare, that this law is a doctrine of devils. For the devil, for as much as he is a manqueller, defendeth his laws with such murders. We know that there be some offended by the occasion that we seem •o be divided from them, which be esteemed to be the ordinary bishops / but our consciences is safe and out of jeopardy. For as ⟨image 173⟩much as we know, that although we desire with all labour & diligence to make concord, yet we can in no wise pacify our adversaries, onles we would cast away the manifest truth / and also oneles we would conspire with them to defend this unrighteous law / to dissolve and break matrimonies / to slay priests, if any refuse to obey / to drive silly poor women and fatherless children in to exile, as persons banished. But for as much as it is undoubted, that these conditions and laws of peace do displease god: let us be sorry never a deal though we have not fellowship, nor be partners with or adversaries of so many murders. We have declared the causes, why we can not with good conscience agree unto our adversaries, which defend the popes law made concerning perpetual abstaining from marriage, that is to wit, because it is repugnant and contrary to God's law, to the law of nature, and disagreeth also from the canons, and besides this is superstitious and full of jeopardy. Finally, because all the hole matter is but feigned, and hypocritical. For this law is not commanded because of any virtue or holiness, but because of lordship and domination. And this they wickedly cloak and shadow under the pretence of God's honour. Neither can there be any thing brought of any wise man against these strong reasons. The gospel giveth to them which have need, licence and liberty for to marry.
but in this one lawe of absteinyng from maryage, they he as harde herted as yron, and wyll not be entreated, albeit euery man knowethe, that it is onely mannes lawe. And this selfe same lawe they do nowe aggrauate and make more streyte many ways. The can on lawe byddeth to suspende preestꝭ, the byshops beinge cruell interpreters of the lawe, do suspende them not from theyr office, but they hange them vp by the neckes vpon trees. They kylle many good men cruellye, onelye because of maryage. And these selfe murders do shewe and declare, that this lawe is a doctrine of deuylles. For the deuyll, for asmoche as he is a manqueller, defendeth his lawes with suche murders. We knowe that there be some offēded by the occasion that we seme o be deuided from them, whiche be estemed to be the ordinarie byshops / but our consciences is safe and oute of ieoperdie. For as