A22612:419
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 Paul used the same word for a common ministration of alms in the second epistle to the Corinthians,1 saying, The office of this common giving of alms, not only supplieth the need of the saints: but also it causeth that the moo do give thanks plenteously to god. &c. And in the second to the Philippians he calleth Epaphrodite Liturgon (that is to say) a minister of his necessity,2 in which place without doubt by that word can not be understanden a priest. But we shall not need to bring forth any mo testimonies, for as much as examples do offer them selves every where to them y• read Greek authors / in whose works Liturgia is used for the common civil charges or offices. And because of the diphthong, gram marions do not bring forth this word out of Lite, which betokeneth prayers: but it ⟨image 193⟩hath his name of the public & common goods,3 which they call Leita / so that Leiturgeo is as much to say, as I do order & have y• charge and handling of the goods of the common weal. But it is a mad thing that they do thus reason, mention of the altar is made in holy scripture, ergo, the mass must needs be a sacrifice / for the parable of the altar is alleged of Paul by a similitude. And this word Missa, they feign to be said of an altar in the Hebrew tongue. But what need they to fetch the Etymology so far, onles it were because they would show forth their conning in the Hebrew tongue? What needed to seek the Etymology so far, when we read this word Missa in the book of Deuteronomy,4 where it signifieth collations or gifts of the people, and not the oblation of the priest. For every one that came to the solemn feast of Easter, was bound to bring some gift for their portion & shot towards the common supper. This manner did christen men keep at the beginning. When they came together, they brought loves of bread, wine, & other things, as witnesseth the canons of the apostles. Thereof a part was taken to be consecrate. The rest was distributed to y• poor. with this manner they also retained the name of collations or shots. And by reason of such collations, it appeareth also y the mass otherwhiles is called Agape (that is to say) a charity, onles perchance a man had rather have it so called, because of the common refection or supper. But let us pass over these trifles.