The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

^*They object also, and lay to our charge the open offending of people, and the troubles and seditions which have risen under the pretence and cloak of our doctrine. To these we answer briefly. First this is evidently known that through the benefit of god our princes have obedient people in they• lordships and dominions. And this self same kind of doctrine, which we follow, because it doth with most large and high praise magnify the authority of governors and rulers: doth increase reverence towards them. This thing also is very profitable to retain and keep tranquility. Furthermore if all often scions were put together in one heap: yet these two articles, that is to wit, that we freely receive remission of sins for Christs sake by faith / and that we be counted righteous for Christs sake by faith, and not for our own fulfilling of the law. And again that governances / laws and all the order of the common weal, be the ordinances of god, which a christen man may use well and holily: these two articles (I say) have so much goodness in them, that they overcome all other incommodities and harms. For fearful consciences can have no sure consolation against the wrath of god: onles they know the one article. And the other article doth greatly strengthen the tranquility of common weals. But with how ⟨image 212⟩detestable and pestilent opinions both kinds of doctrine hath ben oppressed before thꝭ time: every man knoweth / and the books of our adversaries testify, which no where make any mention of faith, when they speak of remission of since. They teach in no place of the dignity of civil things. They in no place teach how the gospel showeth eternal justice and yet in the mean season in this bodily life will that we use political or civil laws, manners and customs. The declaration of these things did at the beginning purchase great favour to. Martin Luther, not only among us, but also with many other men, which now be most extreme adversaries unto us. Thus as Pindarus saith the old favour perisheth and sleepeth and the mortal men be unrememberful. Now if any troubles or seditions have been:

^*They obiecte also, and lay to our charge the open offendynge of people, and the troubles and seditions whiche haue rysen vnder the pretence and cloke of our doctrine. To these we aunswere briefly. Fyrste this is euidently knowen that through the benefite of god our prynces haue obediente people in they lordshyppes and dominions. And this selfe same kynde of doctrine, whiche we folowe, because it dothe with moste large and hyghe prayse magnify the auctoritie of gouernours and rulers: dothe encreace reuerēce towardes them. This thing also is very profitable to retayne and kepe tranquilitie. Furthermore if al offē sions were put together ī one heape: yet these two articles, that is to wete, that we frely receyue remission of sinnes for Christes sake by faythe / and that we be compted rightuous for Christes sake by faythe, and nat for our owne fulfyllynge of the lawe. And agayne that gouernaunces / lawes and all the ordre of the cō mon weale, be the ordenaunces of god, whiche a christen man may vse well and holyly: these two articles (I saye) haue so muche goodnes in them, that they ouercome al other incōmodities and harmes. For fearefull consciences can haue no sure cōsolatiō agaynst the wrathe of god: onles they knowe the one article. And the other article dothe greatly strengthen the tranquilitie of comen weales. But with howe