A22612:53
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.
¶ Of the marriage of priests.
¶ Of the maryage of prestes.
Every man complained of the examples of Priests / which lived not chaste and continently. For which cause also Pius the bishop of Rome is reported to have said / that their we•e certain causes why marriage was taken away from priests.1 But much more greater causes there be wherefore it ought to be restored unto them again. For so writeth Platina / Sith ⟨image 16⟩[…] ⟨p. 16⟩[…] ⟨image 17⟩therefore the priests with us were desirous to avoid those open slanders / they married wives / and taught that it was lawful for them to contract matrimony and to marry. First because Paule sayth. Propter fornication• unusquisque suam v•orem habeat. 2That is to say. Let every man have his wife to avoid fornication. Also it is better to be married / then to be burned.3 Secondarily Christe sayeth. Non omnes capiunt verbum hoc. That is to say. Not all do take this word / where he teacheth that not all men be apt to live sole / and unmarried / for god did create a man to procreation as it appeareth in the first of Genes.4 And it lieth not in mans power / without a singular gift and work of god to change the creation of god. Therefore they that be not apt to live sole / & unmarried / ought to contract matrimony and to marry / for no mans law / no vow can take away the commandment and ordinance of god. For these causes the priests do teach / that it is lawful for them to marry wives. It is evidently known also that in the beginning of the Church priests were married men.