A22612:398
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.
This place expressly requireth the sacrifices of righteous men: wherefore it defendeth not the opinion of the work wrought. Now the sacrifices of the sons of Levi, that is to say, of them that be teachers in the new testament be these, the preaching of the gospel,1 and the good fruits of preaching. Likewise as Paul saith to the Romans, I do sacrifice the gospel of god, that the oblation of the gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the holy ghost, that is to say, that the gentiles might be made sacrifices acceptable to god by faith. &c. For that killing of beasts in the law, did signify both the death of Christ, and the preaching of the gospel, by which this oldness of the flesh must be mortified, and the new and eternal life must be begun in us. But our adversaries, do every where wrest the name of sacrifice to the only ceremony: but of preaching the gospel, of faith, invocation, and other like things they speak nothing, & yet the ceremony was instituted for those things. And the new testament ought to have sacrifices of the heart, and not ceremonials to be done for since, after the manner of the priesthood levitical. They allege also a continual sacrifice, that likewise ⟨image 183⟩as in the law the sacrifice was continual: so the mass ought to be the continual sacrifice of the new testament.2 •ur adversaries be happy and in good case, if we do suffer our selves to be overcome with allegories. But it is known well enough, that allegories make no strong probations / how be it we for our part can be well contented, that the mass be understanden to be a continual sacrifice: so that they understand the hole mass, I mean the ceremony with preaching of the gospel, and with faith, invocation, and thanks giving. For these things joined together be the continual sacrifice of the new testament. For the ceremony was instituted because of these things,3 and ought not to be dissevered from them. Therefore Paul saith. So oft as ye shall eat this bread, & shall drink of the cup of the lord, show the death of the lord. But this thing doth in no wise follow this figure levitical, that the ceremony is a work justifying by the own proper virtue, or that it is a work to be applied for others, that it may merit unto them remission of sins. &c.