A22612:381
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.
❧ Of the Mass.
❧ Of the Masse.
This protestation we must make here again in y• beginning that we do not abrogate nor take away the mass, but we do religiously & reverently retain, and defend it. For there be masses done among us every sunday, and other holy days. At which Masses the sacrament is ministered to them that desy•e to ⟨image 176⟩receive it, after that they have ben examined and have received absolution. And the public usual ceremonies be observed still with us, as the order of the lessons, of the prayers, the apparel, and other like things. Our adversaries make a long declamation concerning the use of the latin tongue in the mass / in which declamation full pleasantly they do play the fools, disputing how it doth profit the unlearned hearer in the faith of the church, to hear the mass, which he understandeth not. For they feign, that the very work of hearing is an honour & service to god, and also is available without any understanding. These matters we will not odiously debate nor discuss, but we leave them to the judgement of the readers. And we do therefore here recite them, to give men knowledge by the way, that the latin lessons and orisons be retained and used still among us. But for as much as ceremonies ought to be observed partly to the intent that men should learn the scripture, and partly that men being put in remembrance by the word should conceive and gather faith, and fear, & so should pray also (for these be the ends of ceremonies) we keep still the latin tongue for them, which do learn and understand latin. And we mingle and join thereunto some songs in the douche tongue, to the intent that the people also might have somewhat to learn, & wherewith to stir up faith and fear. This hath ben the manner and custom always in the churches and congregations. For albeit some congregations have added songs in the douche tongue more often, and other some more seldom: yet well