A22612:418
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.
OUR adversaries call us back again unto grammar, they take arguments of the names of the mass, which need not any long disputation. For it followeth not, that the mass, although it be called a sacrifice, is a work giving grace, by the virtue of the work wrought, or applied for others, doth merit remission of since to them. Liturgia, the greek word (say they) betokeneth the same that Sacrificiū doth in the latin tongue. And the greeks call the mass Liturgiam. ergo. &c. Why do they here leave out the old name Synaxis, which word showeth that the Mass was in old time a communion and participation of many men? But let us make answer to Liturgia. This word doth not signify properly a sacrifice,1 but rather a common ministry or service, and greethe very meetly to our sentence, that is to wit, that one minister consecrating, doth exhibit to the residue of the people, the body and blood of our lord: likewise as one minister teaching, ministereth and giveth to the people y• gospel of Christ, as Paul saith, Let men so judge us, as of the ministers of Christ, & distributers of the mysteries or sacraments of god, that is to wit, of the gospel, and of the sacraments, and in the second to the Corinthians he saith:2 For Christs cause we execute this Ambassade even as though god did desire you by us: we pray you for Christs cause that ye be reconciled▪ &c. So the name of Liturgia agreeth very conveniently to a ministry. And it is ⟨image 192⟩word used in the public ministries. And among the greeks it signifieth common charges, as tribute, costs of preparing their navy, or other like things, as witnesseth the oration of Demosthenes,3 which he made against Leptine, which said oration he spendeth all together in disputation of the common offices and liberties, where he useth this word Liturgia, signifying common charges. And so they spake also in the time of the Romans, as it appeareth in the rescript of Pertinax the emperor in the paragraffe De jure immunitatis, in the law Semper. There also Liturgia is used for common charges. And the commentary of Demosthenes writeth, y• Liturgia is a kind of tributes / the costs of the common plays, the costs of preparing their ships, and of such other common charges.