A22612:436
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.
therefore perfection is to increase the fear of god, and the trust of the mercy promised in Christ, and diligence and care to obey our calling, Likewise as Paul describeth perfection, we be saith he transformed from clearness in to clearness, as of the spirit of the lord. He saith not, we take upon us now this & now that habit of religion, or a sundry fashion of shoes, or another manner of girdle. It is a pitiful thing that such pharisaical, yea rather mahometical words be read and heard in the church (that is to wit) that the perfection of the gospel, and of the kingdom of Christ, which is eternal life, doth stand in these foolish observances of garments, of meats, and of such other trifles.
therfore ꝑfection is to encreace the feare of god, and the truste of the mercye promysed in Christe, and diligence and care to obeye our callyng, Lykewyse as Paule describeth perfection, we be sayth he transfourmed frō clearenes in to clearenes, as of the spirite of the lorde. He sayth not, we take vpō vs now this & now that habite of religion, or a sūdrye fashyon of shoes, or another maner of gyrdle. It is a pitiefull thyng that suche pharisaical, yea rather mahometical wordes be redde and herde in the churche (that is to wit) that the ꝑfection of the gospell, and of the kyngdome of Christe, whiche is eternal lyfe, doth stande in these folyshe obseruaunces of garmētes, of meates, and of suche other tryfles.
Now hearken our sad and discrete judges, how shameful a sentence they have put in the ⟨image 203⟩confutation:1 Thus they say, It is expressed in the holy scriptures, that the religious life duly observed & kept, which through God's grace all religious persons may observe and keep, doth merit eternal life / and that Christ hath promised it more largely to them, which shall forsake house or brethren. &c. These be the words of our adversaries, in which this is first a very shameless lye, to say that it is expressed in holy scripture, that Monastical life doth merit eternal life. For where do the holy scriptures in any place speak of Monastical life? Thus our adversaries defend their cause / thus the wretched men allege the scriptures, when every man knoweth, that Monastical life is a thing newly devised: and yet they allege y authority of scripture, and say, that this their decree is expressed in the scriptures. Besides this, they do injury and dishonour to Christ, in saying, that men by Monastical life do merit eternal life. God doth not give this honour no not to his own law, that it should merit eternal life, as he him self saith plainly in the .xx. chapter of Ezekiel,