A22612:380
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.
And yet it doth not compel those to marry, which be willing and disposed to contain, so that they contain and live chaste in very deed. This liberty we think ought to be granted ⟨image 174⟩unto priests also / neither will we compel any m•n by violence to keep him self unmarried / neither yet dissolve nor break the marriages, which be already made. We have also incidentally,1 whiles we rehearsed our own arguments, showed and declared, how our adversaries do dally away and elude one or two of the arguments with cavillations, which cavillations we have wiped away & avoided. Now we shall briefly rehearse with how strong reasons they defend this law.2 First they say, that it came from god by revelation. Ye see the extreme boldness of these lewd fellows. They be not afraid to affirm that the law of perpetual abstaining from marriage was showed from god by revelation, wham it is contrary to the manifest testimonies of the scripture / 3which do bid that every man should have his own wife, for than oydynge of fornication / 4which also do forbid to dissolve or break matrimonies y• be contracted.5 Paul showeth what author and maker this law should have, wham he calleth it the doctrine of devils. And the fruits also declare who is the author / so many monstrous kinds of bodily lust / so many murders / which now be received under the covert & cloak of y• law.
And yet it dothe not compelle those to marye, whiche be wyllynge and disposed to conteyne, so that they conteyne and lyue chaste in very dede. This libertie we thynke ought to be graūted ⟨image 174⟩vnto preestes also / neyther wyll we compell any mn by violence to kepe hym selfe vnmaryed / neither yet dissolue ne breake the maryages, whiche be alredye made. We haue also incidently,