A Weighing and Considering of the Interim, Part 13
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, hauehave 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 eueryevery manne be instructed and taughte truely and rightly of the true seruice of God.
But as touchyng the songes belonging to the Saynctes, therof hauehave 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 ye 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, soulemasses, 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 *Understand, the withstanders of the truth.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 with many gyftes of God, more then other Coutreies be, with Churches, with metely good manerly order, lawe, a good trade of lyuing, and with prayseworthy scyences: therfore can we not counsell that we oure selues shoulde destroye this metely good estate and degree, and that agaynste Gods commaundement.
And in asmuche as it is writtē, That that whiche is of God, abydeth, it wyll be so foūd in very dede that although a chaunge shoulde be begonne in the Churche in some places, that yet this learning which we preache, wyll abyde in other landes, so that that Interim wyll make but small vnitie.
And where as warre is feared herefore, thereof we wyll shewe ourlowly and obedient meanyng: That the powers & rulers knowe what they shall do in this matter, and what they ought or can do for the defence of the Churche. And as for my persō I am through gods grace ready to departe from hence, or if nede be, to suffre.
But yet we do it not of wranglynge or pryde, that we councell not easelyer and handsomlyer in this matter. But Gods commaundemēt byndeth vsus, not to forsake nor to persecute the knowentrueth. We truste also that this wrytyng wyll declare and shewe it selfe, that we striue not, for dignite, honour, or riches, but that we onelyonly speake of neadfull learnyng and true Godsseruyces.
We wyllnot also loade the hygher powers or other men with suche seueral disputacyons as may not be well knowen of all menne, but wyll kepe yt for vsus & other, to whose calling it belōgeth to teach other men, yt eueryevery one of vsus aunswere and acknowledge his owne confession, vponupon his owne Jeoperdie.
It is not also oure mynde to teache any newe or other thing, but onelyonly this one and true learnyng whiche throughe Godes grace is vniformely preached of the Godlye and menne of vnderstandyng in the Churches of these landes and countreies, and is acknowledged and approued in bothe the vniuersytyes Lypsg and wyttenberg: which we These two …iuersiti… be bothe … Duke …oris lād, this time.know is the true learnyng and true vnderstandyng of the euerlastyng Catholick Church from the begynnyng of the worlde vntounto this daye. And this is the meaning of our consyderacion, that these Churches bee not brought out of reast and peace, but that they may abyde in praying vntounto God, and in the true Godsseruices. For if the consciences be ones wounded with offence, prayer wyll be sore weakened, and many synnes wyll folowe, as dispise and anger against al religiōs, frō whiche synnes God graciousely saue vsus.
And in as much as it was of late wrytē vntounto vsus, that it is highly forbydden in the prologe, to preache, teache, or write agaynst this Interim nede dryuethe vsus with lowlynesse to saye thus muche, that we wyll not chaunge the true learnyng whiche we hauehave hytherto preached in oure Churches. For no creature hath power or authority to chaunge Gods trueth. And no man maye also deny or for sake the knowen trueth. Seig therefore that this Interim is against the true learnyng in many Articles, whiche we hauehave declared, we muste neades shewe a true declaracyon & aunswere thereto, whiche thyng we wyll also do with chrysten measure: and wyll commit the ieoperdye to ye Almighty and euerlasting God, and father of oure Lorde Jesus Christ. And forasmuche as God of his vnspeakable goodnes geathereth him selfe an euerlastyng Churche, and hath opened his wounderfull coūsel thereof, aboue all mens wysdome and thoughtes, we pray vntounto hym, that he himselfe wyll alwayse vpholde maintayne and kepe the same his learning, and also gather hymselfe an euerlastyng Church in these Landes and countreis, & graunt vsus therto good gouernaunce and rule. Amen.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London in Fletestrete at the signe of the Sunne ouer against the conduite by Edwarde Whitchurche, the. vi. daie of Auguste, the yere of our lorde. M. D. XL VIII.
Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
End of the text · Philipp Melanchthon, A Weighing and Considering of the Interim (1548)