A22612:444
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.
But now they feign, that these ceremonies be honours and services of god, deserving forgiveness of since, both to them selves, and to other also. For they for the same intent increase these ceremonies. That if they did take these ceremonies upon them, to teach & exhort the hearers: short & piked lessons should do more good, than those infinite and endless babblings. So all the hole life of religious men is full of hypocrisy, and of false opinions. Besides this there is another jeopardy, and that is this, that they, which be in those Monasteries be compelled to assent & agree unto them, which persecute the truth. There be therefore many weighty and great reasons, which deliver good men from this kind of living.
But nowe they fayne, that these ceremonies be honours and seruices of god, deseruynge forgyuenes of synnes, bothe to them selues, and to other also. For they for the same entēt encrease these ceremonies. That if they dyd take these ceremonies vpon them, to teache & exhorte the hearers: shorte & pyked lessons shulde do more good, than those infinite and endles bablynges. So all the hole lyfe of religious men is full of hypocrisye, and of false opinions. Besydes this there is another ieopardie, and that is this, that they, whiche be in those Monasteries be cōpelled to assent & agree vnto them, whiche psecute the truthe. There be therfore many wayghtie and greate reasons, whiche delyuer good men from this kynde of lyuynge.
1Finally the very canons selves deliver many, which either enticed by the crafts of religious men have vowed religion without judgement, or else being compelled by their friends have made their vows. Such manner vows not the canons them selves do say to be vows▪ ⟨image 207⟩Of all these things it appeareth, that there be many causes, which teach, that Monastical vows, such as have ben made hitherto, be no vows. Wherefore that kind of living may be safely enough forsaken, which is full of hypocrisy and of false opinions.