A22612:432
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.
1First of all▪ this is most certain and undoubted, that it is no lawful vow, by which he that maketh the vow doth think, that he deserveth remission of since before god / or ⟨image 200⟩that he satisfieth for since before god. For this opinion is a manifest injury to the gospel / which teacheth that remission of since is freely given us for Christs sake. As it hath ben said largely heretofore. We have therefore well alleged the place of Paul to the Galatians,2 Ye be void from Christ, who soever be justified by the law, ye be fallen from grace. Who soever seek remission of since, not by faith in Christ, but by monkish works: they minish the honour of Christ, & crucify Christ again. But berken (I pray you) hearken, how the devisers of the confutation wade out here.* They expound this place of saint Paul only of the law of Moses / and they add, y• religious men observe all things for Christs sake / and go about to live more near to the rule of the gospel / in such sort that they may merit eternal life.4 And they add an horrible conclusion in this wise, saying, wherefore all these things be wicked, which be alleged against the religious life. O Christ, how long wilt thou suffer these injuries and dishonours, which our enemies do unto thy gospel? We said in the confession, that remission of since is freely received for Christs sake by faith. If this be not the very saying of the gospel / if this be not the sentence of the eternal father, which thou (o most merciful Christ) that art in thy fathers bosom, diddest show to the world, we be rightfully punished? But thy death is witness / thy resurrection is witness / the holy ghost is witness / thy hole church is witness, that this is the very sentence of the gospel / that we obtain remission of since, not for ⟨image 200⟩our own merits, but for thy sake by faith. Paul, when he saith, that men do not merit remission of since by the law of Moses, taketh away much rather this praise from the traditions of men. And this he witnesseth openly to the Colossians. If the law of Moses, which was given by god, did not merit remission of since: how much less than do these foolish observances, disagreeing from the civil custom and manner of living, merit remission of since?