A22612:412
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 use of the sacrament, and of sacrifice.
❧ Of the vse of the sacrament, and of sacrifice.
Certain pleasant fellows feign and imagine,1 that the supper of the lord was instituted for two causes. The one is, y• it should be a mark and testimony of profession, likewise as the certain fashion of a monks or a friars habit is a token of a certain profession or order. Secondarily they think, that such manner sign and token, that is to wit, a supper, or maundy did chiefly please Christ, to the end it should signify a conjunction and friendship of christen men among them selves each to other. For drinking and eating together is a token of love and friendship. But this is but a civil opinion / and doth not show the chief and principal use of things taught by god. Only it speaketh of charity to be exercised, which lay and civil men do after a fashion understand, but it speaketh not of faith, which few men understand what it is.
CErtayn pleasaūt felowes fayne and imagine,1 that the souper of the lord was instituted for two causes. The one is, y• it shulde be a marke and testimonie of ꝓfession, lykewyse as the certein facyon of a monkes or a freers habite is a tokē of a certeyn ꝓfessiō or ordre. Secundarily they thynke, that suche maner signe and token, that is to witte, a souper, or maundy dyd chyefely please Christ, to thende it shulde signifie a coniunction and frendshyp of christē men amonge them selues eche to other. For drynkyng and eatynge together is a token of loue and frendshyppe. But this is but a ciuile opinion / and dothe not shewe the chyefe and princihall vse of thynges taughte by god. Only it speaketh of charitie to be exercised, whiche laye and ciuile men do after a fashyon vnderstande, but it speakethe not of fayth, whiche fewe men vnderstāde what it is.