A22612:442
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.
There is another place also alleged of perfection. Si uis perfectus esse. &c. 1If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that ever thou haste, and give to pore folk, and come and follow me. This place hath troubled many men which have imagined, that perfection is to caste away possessions and property of things. Let us suffer the philosophers to praise Aristippus,2 which did caste away a great sum of gold into the See: Such manner examples nothing appertain to the christen perfection. The division of things, dominions, and possession of goods be civil ordinances approved by the word of god in this commandment (Thou shalt do no theft) •ut the forsaking of mans own goods, hath no commandment nor counsel in the scriptures.3 For ⟨image 206⟩evangelical poverty is not the forsaking of goods: but it is / not to be covetous / not to trust to riches. As David was pore in his most rich kingdom. Wherefore sith the forsaking of mans own goods is a mere tradition of man: it is an unprofitable service. And those be unmeasurable praises of the extravagant, which sayeth, that forsaking of the property of all manner things for God's sake is a meritorious and holy thing / and the way of perfection. Certes it is a very daungerful thing so unmeasurably to praise the thing which is contrary to the civil custom. But Christ (say they) here calleth it perfection. Nay they do injury and wrong to the text, which allege it thus may hemmed and unperfect / perfection standeth in this which Christ addeth. Follow me. An example of obedience is set forth to us,* in the calling. And because callings be in sundry wises: therefore this calling appertaineth not to all men, but belongeth only to that person with whom Christ speaketh there / as the calling of David to the kingdom / and of Abraham to slay his son, be not to be followed of us. The vocations be personal, likewise as the businesses selves do vary in times and persons,5 but the example of obedience is general. That young man should have had perfection, if he had believed and obeyed that calling. So likewise in us it is perfection, every man in true faith to obey his own calling.