A22612:67
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.
IT was a common persuasion not only of the vulgar people / but also of the teachers in the Churches that diversities of meats and like traditions of men be profitable works to deserve remission of sin and of pain. And that the world did so think / it appeareth by that / that new ceremonies / new orders / new holy days / & new fastings / were daily instituted / and teachers in temples / did exact and require these works as a necessary honour to the obtaining of righteousness / and they greatly did put in fear the silly consciences if they should omit and leave undone any of these things. Of this persuasion of traditions / many mischiefs and inconveniences ensued in the church. First of all / the doctrine of grace and the righteousness of faith was obscured and defaced / which is the chief part of the gospel / and ought most of all to stand forth and to appear in the church / to the entente that the merit of Christ might be well known / and that faith / which believeth that sins be forgiven for Christ / and not for any of our works / might be advanced and set up far above works. Wherefore Paul also leaneth greatly to this part / and removeth and putteth away the law and traditions of men because he would show that the christian righteousness is an other thing then such works / ⟨p. 21⟩that is to wit / that it is faith / which believeth that since be freely forgiven for Christ. But this doctrine of Paul is almost all together oppressed by traditions / which have engendered and brought forth an opinion that we must needs merit and get remission of sins and justification by diversity of meats / and like honouring of god. In penance there was no speaking of faith / only these satisfactory works were purposed and set forth / the hole penance appeared to consist and stand in them. Secondarily these traditions have obscured and darkened the precepts of god / because that traditions of men were preferred and regarded above the precepts of god. The hole christianity was thought to be the observation and keeping of certain ferries / rites / fastings / and vestures. These observations had by long prescription of time won them selves a very high & an honest title. for they only were called the spiritual life / & perfect life.
IT was a comen persuasion not onely of the vulgare people / but also of the teachers in the Churches that diuersities of meates and lyke traditions of mē be profytable warkes to deserue remissyon of syn and of payne. And that the worlde dyd so thīke / it appereth by that / that newe ceremonies / newe orders / newe holy dayes / & newe fastynges / were dayly instituted / and teachers in temples / did exacte and require these workes as a necessarie honour to the obteynynge of rightuousnes / and they greatly did put in feare the sely consciences yf they shulde omitte and leue vndone any of these thynges. Of this persuasion of traditions / many myschiefes and inconueniencies ensued in the churche. Fyrste of all / the doctrine of grace and the ryghtuousnes of faythe was obscured and defaced / whiche is the chief parte of the gospell / and ought most of all to stonde forthe and to appere in the church / to the entente that the meryte of Christ myght be wel knowen / and that fayth / which beleueth that sinnes be forgyuen for Christe / and not for any of our workes / myght be aduaūced and set vppe farre aboue workes. Wherfore Paule also leaneth greatly to this part / and remoueth and putteth awaye the lawe and traditions of men because he wold shewe that the christian rightuousnes is an other thynge then suche workes /