The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

It is written that to Antony,¹ when he desired of god to know how much he had profited in this kind of living, there was showed in his dream a certain shoemaker dwelling in the city of Alexandria, to whom he was compared. On the morrow after, Antony cometh into the city, ⟨image 204⟩and goeth unto the shoemaker, to search and know his exercises and gifts. When he had spoken with the man: he heareth nothing of him, but that he did every morning in few words pray for the hole city, and afterwards did apply his craft and occupation. Here Antony perceived, that justification is not to be imputed to that sort of living, which he had taken upon him and professed. But our adversaries, although they now moderate the praises of perfection: yet in very deed they think otherwise. For they sell merits, and apply them for other: under this pretence, that they observe both the precepts and also the counsels. Wherefore in very deed, they think that they have merits mo then they need. What is to challenge perfection unto them selves, if this be not? Furthermore it is put in the confutation, that religious men labour to live more near unto the rule of the gospel. It doth therefore put perfection in the traditions of men: if religious men live more near to the rule of the gospel, because they have nothing proper, but all common / because they live without wives / because they obey their rule in garments meats, and other like trifles.

It is wryten that to Antony,¹ when he desyred of god to knowe howe muche he had profyted in this kynde of lyuynge, there was shewed in his dreame a certayne shomaker dwellyng in the citie of Alexandrie, to whom he was compared. On the morowe after, Antony cōmith into the citye, ⟨image 204⟩and goeth vnto the shomaker, to searche and knowe his exercises and gyftes. When he had spoken with the man: he hearith nothynge of hym, but that he dyd euery mornynge in fewe wordes pray for the hole citie, and afterwardꝭ dyd applye his crafte and occupation. Here Antony perceiued, that iustification is nat to be imputed to that sorte of lyuing, whiche he had taken vpon hym and professed. But our aduersaries, although they now moderate the prayses of perfection: yet in very dede they thynke otherwyse. For they sell merites, and apply them for other: vndre this pretēce, that they obserue bothe the preceptes and also the coūsayles. Wherfore in very dede, they thinke that they haue merites mo then they nede. What is to chalēge ꝑfectiō vnto them selues, if this be nat? Furthermore it is put in the cō futation, that religious men labour to lyue more nere vnto the rule of the gospel. It doth therfore put perfection in the traditions of men: if religious men lyue more neare to the rule of the gospell, because they haue nothing propre, but all comen / because they lyue without wyues / because they obey theyr rule in garmentes meates, and other lyke trifles.