A22612:423
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.
1We will pass over here what manner testimonies our adversaries have of Purgatory / what manner pains they judge the pains of Purgatory be / what manner causes the doctrine of satisfactions hath, which doctrine we have here before showed to be most vain. This thing only we shall lay against them / it is most certain and undoubted, that the supper of the lord was ordained for the remission ⟨image 194⟩of the guilt (for it offereth remission of since, in which case we must needs by it understand the guilt) and yet nevertheless it satisfieth not for the guilt / for than the mass should be equal to the death of Christ. Neither remission of the guilt can •e otherwise received then by faith / wherefore we may conclude, that the mass is no satisfaction, but a promise and sacrifice requiring faith. And forsooth all good and godly men can not but be sore grieved in their hearts if they should think that the Mass for the most part is translated and applied to dead men / and to satisfactions for pains. This is to take away continual sacrifice out of the church. This is the kingdom of Antiochus, which hath translated the most wholesome promises of remission of sin, and of faith, unto the most vain opinions of satisfactions. This is to defile the gospel / to corrupt the use of the sacraments.2 These be they whom Paul said be guilty of the body and blood of the lord / which have oppressed the doctrine of faith and remission of sin, and under the pretence of satisfactions have abused the body & blood of the lord to most cursed lucre. But they shall one day suffer for this abominable sacrilege. Wherefore we, and all good consciences must take heed that we approve not the abuses of our adversaries. But let us return to our matter. Forasmuch as the mass is not a satisfaction, neither for punishment, nor for sin by the virtue of the work wrought without faith / it followeth that the applying of it for dead men is unprofitable. Neither do we need here any longer disputation. For it is undoubted, ⟨image 195⟩[…] ⟨image 195⟩[…] ⟨image 196⟩