A22612:433
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 feign,1 that Paul doth abrogate the law of Moses / and that Christ doth so succeed the law, that he doth not freely give remission of since, but for the works of other laws, if any be now devised. With this wicked and mad opinion they utterly drown the benefit of Christ. Furthermore they feign, that among them, which observe that law of Christ, religious men more nearly observe it, than other men, because of their hypocritical and cloaked poverty, chastity, and obedience, when all that ever they do or say, is full of simulation. They brag and boast of poverty, being in most high abundance of all manner things. They boast of their obedience, when no kind of men hath more liberty than religious men. Of their single life I list not to speak, which how clean and pure it is in most part of them, that study to keep them selves chaste, one Gerson in his book showeth.2 And how many be there (I pray you) which study to live chaste? Be ye sure, with this hypocrisy and simulation religious men live more near unto the rule of the gospel. Christ doth not ⟨image 201⟩so succeed Moses, that for our works sake he forgiveth sins: but y• he doth set his own merits his own propitiation against the wrath of god for us, that we might freely be forgiven. But who soever besides the propitiation of Christ doth plead his own merits against the wrath of god, & goeth about for his own merits to purchase remission of since, whether he bringeth the works of Moses law, or of the ten commandments, or of Benet's rule, or of Austin's rule, or of any other rules: he doth disannul and take away the promise of Christ / he hath caste away Christ, and is fallen from grace. This is the sentence and mind of Paul. And consider, O Charles, most mild and gentle Emperor / Consider ye princes / Consider ye of all orders and degrees, how great is the unshamefastnes of our adversaries, when we did recite the place of Paul containing this sentence: They wrote unto it these words, They be all wicked which be alleged here against Monastical life. And what is more certain & undoubted, than that men obtain remission of since for Christs sake by faith. And yet these lewd fellows dare call this sentence wicked.
Our aduersaries fayne,