A22612:434
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.
We doubt not, but if ye had ben monished of this place, ye would have seen this so great blasphemy to have ben scraped out of the confutation. Now for as much as it hath ben heretofore largely declared the opinion to be wicked, that for our own works we obtain remission of sins, we will be the shorter in this place. For a wise reader may thereof easily conclude, that we deserve not remission of sins by abbey works. And therefore that blasphemy ⟨image 201⟩also is in no wise to be suffered, which is red in Thomas,1 that the profession of religion is •galle to baptism. It is plain madness to make the tradition of man, which ha•• for •t neither the commandment, neither the promise of god, equal to the ordinance of Christ, which hath for it both the commandment, and the promise of god, and which containeth the covenant of grace & of eternal life. 2Secondly, obedience, poverty, & single life, so that it be not unclean, be but exercises indifferent. And therefore holy men may use them without sin, as Bernard, Francis▪ and other holy men did use them. And they did use them for a corporal utility, that they might be the more expedite and re•ye to teach, and to do other holy and virtuous works▪ and not because the very works of them selves •e services, which justify, or merit eternal life. Briefly, they be of that sort, of which […] speaketh to Timothy▪ 3Corporalis exercitacio ad modicum utilis est, Bodely exercise is profitable a little. And it is likely enough that somewhere at this day there be good men in Monasteries, which busy them selves in the ministration of the word, and which use those observances without any wicked opinions. But to think that those observances •e services and honoryngꝭ of god, by which we be counted righteous before god, and deserve everlasting life: this is plain contrary to the gospel of the justice of faith, which teacheth, that for Christs sake justice is given to us and eternal life. It is contrary to the saying of Christ. Frustra me colunt mandatis hominum .i. In vain they worship me with traditions of