vs geueth to the same substaūce this honour that it knoweth and can iudge all mennes hertes and al their thoughtes and sighes This honour belongeth onely to the substaunce of God wherfore the praying to Saynctes is not right nor lawfull And although they haue fayned here agaynst that god geueth them a seuerall reuelacyon of suche praier as is made vnto them that is spoken without the booke And we set theragainst this highe saying Thou shalt cal vpō or praie vnto thy lord God serue hym alone And where as they also saye that they be prayed vnto as seruauntes and aduocates This answere also is not ynough For the praying vnto them is of it selfe a wytnesse and token that they that be not seen are made almightye the whyle the propertie whiche belongeth to god almyghty is geuen vnto them Secondarily we maye not haue other mediatours annexed sette vnto Christ to be in iointer w t him Thirdly it is also openly knowē to all the world that men haue not onely sought to make the Saintes mediatours but y t they haue also sought a sondry helpe by euery one of them This great Idolatrie shoulde be strēgthened if that beginnyng and praier to them of which the booke speaketh be kept and holden Fourthly There maye no godsseruice be brought into the churche which god hath not ordened in his word and as for prayig to saintes hath no commaundement of God as is openly knowen Fyfthly Mans herte may not nor cannot praye when it knoweth not whether suche a forme of prayer please god or not And there is no word of god that teacheth vs so to praye Yee there be theragaynst strong commaundementes which teache that onely the one godly substaunce ought to be prayed vnto y t thorowe the mediatour And this saying must abide fast suer what souer ye aske of the Father in my name he will geue it you This onely begotten sonne is sette before vs for our Mediatour peacemaker and speaker for Hereagaynst sayeth the Booke not onelye of the speakyng for vs but also of the deseruinges of the Saynctes whiche is yet more to be rebuked And this is a shamefull lye that it saith that Jacob taught his children to praye vnto Abraham to Isaac and to him and expoundeth the saying Gene. 48. They shall be called myne and Abrahams and Jsaacs chyldren that is I wytnesse that the promyses whiche be promysed me and Abraham Isaac shall inheret vpon them as vpon our aftercomers that is to saye y t they shall suerly haue one churche and ordre and that many of them shalbe inheritoures of euerlastyng lyfe This true vnderstanding of the texte leaueth the boke out and fayneth a false of praying to Saynetes There be also other mo sayinges in the Booke that are wrong expounded Hereby it is playne y t no manne maye agree or consent to these Articles of the boke in which the prayer to Saynctes is commaunded and strengthened Howbeit it is profitable for many thinges to know the whole story of the churche frō the beginning to the ending to take witnesse therof that god vpholdeth his churche alwaies and that god be thanked that he hath opened and shewed himself in the Saynctes And also that we teache and strengthen our selues with thinsāple of the Saynctes The true storyes of the Saynctes are also often alleged of vs in Sermons and shewed to y e people whiche thyng we wyll also from henceforth do OF Souse Masses THese Masses are almoste the moste commen Ceremonies in Abbayes and in other churches in maner in all Countreyes and lādes for they bryng moneye And there be many erroures comen into the world through Soulemasses wherof it is to long to speake at this tyme. But it is also a peruertig of y e Sacrament y e it is applyed for y e deed For y e Sacramēt was instituted to stirre vp strēgthen y e belefe of the liuing and also for a remēbraunce Now are not the dead presēt at it And it is saide without any groūd that the priest deserueth them anye thyng through these Ceremonyes Therefore maye not this Article in the boke be consēted vnto in anywyse and the saying of S. Denise whiche is alleged as touchyng the burying speaketh no whit of the Masse Where as some also haue praied for the dead y t maketh nothyng at all for the Masse Let this also be ynough therof at this tyme. Of Ceremonyes IN our Churches are the chiefe Ceremonyes belonging to good ordre as Sondaye holy dayes with vsed and accustomed synging and readyng not muche chaunged We wyll also kepe and hold the same with diligence And if any mā shall ymagyn anye thyng in suche meane and indifferēt thynges with the good Counsell of them that ought to rule the Churche whiche shoulde serue for more vnyformitie and good and manerly ordre we will gladly helpe to vpholde it For we wyll not stryue or braule for suche meane thynges so ferre as the christen vse therof stretcheth We care not also whether men eate fleshe or fishe And yet we maie not let the learnyng of the difference of meates and of the true godsseruyce in suche meane vnneady thynges be quenched out as they were almoste before these dayes cleane quenched out As S. Austen at his tyme and an C. yeare agone Gerson yee and fyftye yeare agone Wessasus at Bastil Wesell and Meyntz and certen other haue sore complayned For although ther be alwaies great heapes of errours in the Churche from the begynnyng to the ending yet abydeth there in some the true knowledge of God true prayer and better vnderstanding of the Godly learnyng then in the great muititude and it is Gods wyll that euery manne be instructed and taughte truely and rightly of the true seruice of God But as touchyng the songes belonging to the Saynctes therof haue I sayde that the praying to them is not to be receaued Item in asmuche as we deuyde the Sacrament in our Churches must those Processions be lefte out wherin the one parte is caryed aboute It is also true and suer that the Sacramentes in their vse as they be ordened in gods worde are right Sacramentes not when they be turned to other straunge workes to which they be not ordened or institute Therfore is that spectacle in y e Procession vnright and ought not to be strengthened or set vp againe Moreouer This is well knowen to the withstanders that the preuy Masse prayig to sainctes soule-masses and the Procession and certein other suche vses although they might be excused be yet neadelesse and ieopardouse And that that example of settyng them vp agayne strengtheneth the great erroures and misuses among the other bryngeth them in agayne into these Churches They knowe also that that offence wyll sore greue manye godly men and that muche persecucion wyll be sought and manye priestes and other persons banisshed prysoned and happely kylled And these Countreyes are now through gods grace furnished
A waying and considering of the INTERIM by the honourworthy and highly learned PHILLIP MELANCTHON Trāslated into Englyshe by John Rogers 1548. To the Reader BEcause I with great griefe haue nowe often heard most dere Reader that y e highly learned and no lesse godly ientle and louing man Phillip Melancthon is highlye belyed in that a great sorte openlye saye that he hath denyed the trueth or that I maye vse their owne wordes recanted whiche thyng they saye onelye to hyndre the furtheraunce of Gods trueth I coulde do no lesse but turne into our Englyshe speache and also put out this litle treatise of his not so muche for the defence of his moste named and knowen fames sake which he hath yet hitherto kepte vndefiled so that euen the greatest enemyes of the gospell neither coulde nor haue saied otherwise of hym as for the coūfortyng of many godly and christen hertes whiche haue bene not alytell dismayed and discouraged thorow suche lyes And verely not without a cause for his denying would do more harme to the trueth in these last and most perelouse tymes than any tongue or penne can expresse And God of his goodnesse bountefull mercye and great power graunt that that neuer chaunce At this tyme also thākes be to god therfore he hath not onely not denyed the trueth but also after his olde accustomed christē manier plainelye confessed and acknowledged it whiche thyng this his answere to the Interim ynough witnesseth And although this his writing be shorte and answere not to al the poyntes of the Interim for that would aske great labour and long tyme yet it playnely answereth to the greatest misuses and to the very senowes of the Rome bushops moste tryannouse kyngdome contayned in that boke He also sheweth tokens ynoughe in the booke that he will at leasure largelier write vpon manye poyntes therof I receiued also a letter with this treatise from a nother godly and learned man wherin is writen that other and diuers learned men in Dutchlande be in hand to shewe their meaning in writing as touchyng the same so that we maye be of muche better comforte then our papistes would gladly se yea then manye of the good and faithfull christen be that that Interim will be w tstanded not so sone and easely receaued as y e papistes hope many christen feare This I saie chiefelye caused me to putte out this litle boke at this time But for that there be haply many that know not what that Interim meaneth for some haue not seen it and some haue not harde of it ye and the moste vnderstande not the worde as they that vnderstand no Latine or not very well neede dryueth me to shewe bothe what it is and also the meanyng of the worde Interim is a booke whiche was at y e Emperoures Maiesties commaūdemet prynted and put forth about the begynnyng of June in this yere of our Sauiours birthe 1548. wherein is commaunded that al the Cities in Dutchlande that haue receaued the worde of God and made a chaunge of Ceremonyes accordyng to the word shal reforme their Churches agayne and turne to the olde popishe ordinaunces as a dog dothe to that he hathe spued out or a washen swyne to the myre Thus haue ye harde what it is Now heare what the worde signifyeth or betokeneth Interim is as muche to saye as in the meane season or in the meane while And therfore haue they christened the childe and geuen him this name because they wyll y t we kepe all the thynges commaunded and contayned in that booke in y e meane while from this highedutche parlament holden at Auszburg till there be a generall councell holden There they thynke but God sitteth aboue in heauen and thynketh happly otherwyse to make y e matter worsse For because it had been an hastye worcke to haue chaunged all thynges at once they of their great I had almoste sayed greuouse and mercilesse mercy haue borne with vs in two thynges y t is to saye in y ◠▪ Maryage of priestes receiuing of the communion in both the kindes But how lōg Forsoth Interim that is in the meane while till the Generall Councell come And thynke then to beare no longer with vs no nor with Christe himselfe for then they thynke to be so strong that neyther Christe himselfe nor all that wyll abyde by hym shall be able to withstande them This is the meanyng of the worde in Englyshe Unto this Interim and the meaning thereof hathe thaboue named Phil. Melancthon answered and written this present treatise sheweth to what thinges a christen man maye agre whiche thynges may be chaunged whiche not in which treatise y e reader shall well perceaue that he nether hath denied the trueth that he hathe thus longe taught and acknowledged nor yet thinketh to doe whiche vertu and high gyfte of God the almighti father of our lord Jesus Christ increase in him and all the christen to the honour glory of his holy name increase of his knoweledge and sauing of many soules Amen At London in Edward whitchurch house by John Rogers 1. Augusti 1548 The answere of Ph. Me. to the Interim THe Prologe newly made to the boke Interim was not brought vnto vs therefore can we make no mencyon thereof at this time but we perceiue that it is a very greuous heuy and perlouse wrytyng yf this be the meanyng thereof that they condempne our Churches and that the receauing of this booke shoulde be an acknoweledgyng as it were y t our churches haue hitherto taught wrongfully and begonne a selfwilly dissencion and deuision Therfore is it nedefull that all the men of vnderstandyng in our Churches answere therto for if we should now oure selues denye the knowen and acknowledged trueth bynde our selues to the persecucion of the same trueth that were a blaspheming of God whiche shoulde neuer be forgeuen from which God graciousely defende vs. And although warre and destruccion be thretned vs yet must we set more by Gods worde and not denie the knowen trueth SECONDARELy the learning of the sōne of God and of the forgeuenes of sinnes is also the specyall Counsel of God whiche God of his vnspeakable mercy hathe declared and opened and wyll that all men helpe to vpholde the same learning to thintent that they may pray vnto him aright obtaine saluaciō Now hath the deuell alwayes sought many craftes and wyles frō Adams time hitherto to quenche out this learning or to darcken it as thensamples fearefully declare Therefore ought we dylygently to take hede that we be not drawen from true right learning as God often warneth and exorteth vs. THIRDLy let men also consider if false learnyng and Idolalatrye shoulde be agayne brought in and be gonne in oure Churches how greate an offence and sclaunder should be occasioned therin for there would many Godly men and wemen fall into great heauynes griefe and the true prayer and callyng vpon God should be
vnderstanding sheweth Therfore is this one fawte in the Booke that it sayeth loue is true rightwesnes and fayneth y t belefe is but a knowledge suche a one as is in the deuels And saith further that a man is an inheritour of euerlastyng life because he hath loue and so sedeth vs to our owne workes and speaketh nothyng of this comfort that we shall beleue that God suerly receaueth all those to euerlastyng lyfe that turne agayne and amend and trust vpon the soÌ„ne of god through suche belefe But that some saie that we vnderstand not the boke this we lette them iudge that wyll hereafter largelier write thervpon if it come abroade and shewe his head And althoughe menne woulde suttely and wylily excuse it and gether the poyntes therin contayned here and there together so is it yet agaynst it selfe For as muche then as this Article howe a man is rightwes before god and pleaseth god must be knowen to all men that the righte honour maye be geuen to the sonne of God and that men maye haue right true coumforte must all men both the learned and the vnlearned helpe to kepe the godly learnyng of the gospell pure cleane and vndarkned Therfore can we not councell that anye man receaue the booke in this poynte And in asmuche as it is playne that no creature neither in heauen or earth oughte to chaunge the vnchaungeable councell of God opened in the gospell we will through Gods grace also from henceforthe truly teache the learnyng of belefe good workes as we haue nowe many yeres preached and taught it in these churches for it is so set out in the scripture of God OF THE CHVRCHE and Busshops FROM the leuenth leafe vntyll the eightenth is saide what y e Churche of God is of the order and power of the Bushops there be many pointes patched in which wyll and rightfully maye be spokeÌ„ against and withstanded of godly and learned men But in as moche as these sayeinges almoste to the ende of the article be general moche contaynyng doubtfull and hastie sayinges we wyll not counsell y t our most gracyous Prynce meddle moche in this Article It is truthe that the churche is a congregacion or company gatherd together of the right beleuing and that no man shal deuide and disseuer him selfe from the Churche But than is this the question which be those right beleuing And because the disseueryng and parting from the church is made an heuy and highe faute to our dispise and shame be ye suer is this our answere for neade theragaynst which the boke it self acknowledgeth that the teachers muste fynde faute with false learning and false Godsseruyces Nowe yf the withstanders of y e trueth wyll not geue place and y t so discorde and debate folowe therevppon so be the pesecuters of the trueth specially in needy weighty matters fauty before God and not the poare Godly people that preach or receyue the trueth This is plain and the saying of S. Paul is knowen to many If an Aungell in heauen preache any other ghospell holde hym accursed But that there be many great erroures and mysvses defended of the Rome bushop and his nowe at this tyme that is playne And the boke it selfe hath fouÌ„de fawte at some erroures whiche yet the Counsels holden at Trident and Bonoâ—y haue strengthened Let this be ynoughe for the excuse of our churches at this tyme We beseche also our moste graciouse Prynce and his prayse worthy lande that yf the Byshoppes wil haue vs to be obedient to them that that maye be done with thys condycyon and after this facion that they persecute not the trueth and sette not vp agayne vngodly ceremonyes in the lande Furthermore thys muste also be shewed neede dryuyng vs therto Although we wyll charge no manne to take in hande all these dispuracions whiche stycke in this Artycle for they be not all a lyke nedefull and some thynges there be whereto the suer and stedfaste wytnesses of the olde churche be neadefull whiche euery man can not seake out and we kepe this laboure for our self some other y e euery maÌ„ make his owne christen profitabe acknowledgyng declaracioÌ„ for himself vpoÌ„his owne ieoê‘dy as touchiÌ„g these other matters for that y t the boke saith in this point of the Councels and de potestate Interpretationis that is of the power to expound y e Scripture there are many thynges to be spoken of God hath gracyously opened hys mynde and wil those must we heare and receiue and not as in worldly kyngdomes geue one certen person power to make exposicions at hys pleasure Of the sacramentes OF Chrystenyng there is no strife and our churches haue christenly and with profet striuen as touchyng the chrystenyng of chyldren and other articles belongyng thereto and shewed good and sure ground agaynst many errours of the Anabaptistes or Againechristeners or twisechristeners this our labour hath profitably holpen to the declaring of manye Artycles Of Confirmacion and anoyn â–ª tyng OF these thynges I councell also that we stryue not but so muche as belongeth to the callyng vpoÌ„ or praying vnto saintes wherof we will hereafter speake And although it displease vs that men so praise both these workes ConfirmacioÌ„ anoynting that they make them like thother Sacramentes bynde the working of y e holy ghost therto wheras it is yet plaine that thei be so paiÌ„ted out but for a shew yet wyl we not at this time dispute therof and commyt it also to euery mans owne acknowledgyng But we cannot agree vnto this blasphemyng of God y t meÌ„ should charge our priestes to receaue and reache out suche Anoyntinges and vngodly consecracioÌ„s wherof they falsly crake and boast in Póntificalibê Agenden y e the holy ghost forgeuenes of sinnes other giftes of god and defence agaynst the deuell is geuen therby and that they should serue for the helthe of bodye and soule c. Of Repentaunce ALL menne of vnderstandyng knowe that before these our dayes the Monkes Freers learning in this Article of RepeÌ„taunce was full of great errours blyndnesse They could shew no sure couÌ„forth yee they taught rather theragaynst that we shoulde alwayes abyde in doubte of the forgeuenes of synnes They haue also loaded the conscyences with thunpossible tellyng of our synnes and afterwarde with the erroures of Satisfaccions with pardons and manye supersticions and misbelefes These selfe same erroures and mysuses did first raise this strife of the learnyng For Godly preachers which were men of vnderstanding muste nedes finde faute at suche erroures and blaspheinyes of God And the learnyng of Repentaunce is through goddes grace so well and surely declared that all men of vnderstandyng acknoweledge that the same christen declaracioÌ„ taught in our churches is right true and couÌ„fortable and also profitable to the righte praying and callyng vnto god and to the knowledge of the gospell OF CONFESSION COnfession is also diligentlye kept in