A22612:438
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.
Sith than it is so, that not so much as by the works of God's law, we can merit remission of sins, or eternal life, but it is necessary to seek the mercy promised in Christ: much less is such honour to be given to Monastical observances (seeing their be nothing else but traditions of men) that they should deserve remission of since or eternal life. Thus they utterly destroy and bury the gospel of free remission of since, and of receiving the mercy promised in Christ: who soever teach y• the monkish life doth merit remission of since, or eternal life, and they translate the trust, which is due to Christ: unto those foolish observances. In the stead of Christ they worship their own cols, their own filthiness. And inasmuch as they them selves also do need mercy, they do wickedly, in that they feign merite• of super erogation, and sell them to other. We speak the more briefly of these things, because by the matters which we have spoken ⟨image 204⟩before of justification / of repentance / of humane traditions / it is evident enough, that monastical vows be not the price, for which remission of since and eternal life be given. And sith it is so, that Christ him self doth call traditions unprofitable honours and services: they be in no wise evangelical perfection. But our adversaries would full wilily seem to moderate the common persuasion of perfection. They will not say, that monastical life is perfection: but they say: it is the state of getting perfection. In faith properly said / and we remember,1 that this correction is made in Gersones works. For it appeareth, that wise men offended with those unmeasurable praises of monastical life, because they durst not utterly take from it the praise of perfection: they added this correction, that it is the state of getting perfection. If we follow this opinion, so shall monastical life be no whit more the state of perfection, than is the life of the ploughman, or of the carpenter. For these be also states of getting perfection. For all men, of whatsoever calling they be ought to desire perfection (that is to wit) to grow and increase in the fear of god / in faith / in loving of their neighbour / and in like spiritual virtues. We read in histories examples of Hermits, saint Antony and other, which make the kinds of living equal one to another.