A22612:88
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.
Prodigious / monstrous / & wonderful disputations are set forth of the changing of the law / of the ceremonies of the new law / of the changing of the Sabbath day / which all have sprung forth of a false persuasion and believe of men / which thought that there must needs be in the church an honouring of god / like to the levitical / and that Christ committed to the apostles and to bishops authority to invent and to find out ceremonies / which be necessary to salvation.
Prodigious / monstruous / & wonderfull disputations are set forthe of the chaungynge of the lawe / of the ceremonies of the newe lawe / of the chaungynge of the Sabbat daye / whiche all haue spronge forth of a false persuation and beleue of men / whiche thought that there must nedes be in the churche an honourynge of god / lyke to the leuiticall / and that Christe cōmitted to thapostles and to bysshops auctoritie to inuente and to fynde oute ceremonies / whiche be necessarye to saluation.
These errors crept in to the Church / when the righteousness of faith was not clearly enough taught. Some dispute that the keeping of the Sunday is not merely and fully God's law / but in a manner / and as it were of the law of god. They prescribe of holy days / how far forth it is lawful to work. Such manner of disputations / what other things be they but ⟨image 35⟩snares of consciences? For although they busy them selves to modify / qualify / and find an epikee in their traditions / tempering the rigour of them with favourable declarations: yet notwithstanding as long as the opinion that they are necessary doth remain (which must needs remain where righteousness of faith / and christen liberty are not known.) this epikee equity and favour can never be perceived nor known.
These errours crepte in to the Churche / whan the ryghtuousnes of faythe was not clearely ynough taught. Some dispute that the kepyng of the Sonday is not merely and fully goddes lawe / but in a maner / and as it were of the law of god. They prescribe of holy days / howe far forthe it is laufull to worke. Suche maner of disputations / what other thynges be they but