The Book of Concord: The Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church

[\> the Readers, one and all, of these Writings of ours, we, the Electors, Princes and Deputies of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany, adherents of the Augsburg Confession, who have subscribed our names to the same, announce and declare, according to the dignity and rank of each one, our devotion, friendship and greeting, combined with willing service.

It is a remarkable favor of Almighty God, that, in these last times, and, in this old age of the world, he has willed, according to his unspeakable love, forbearance and mercy, that the light of 1 1 is Gospel and Word, through which alone we receive true salvation, should arise and shine clearly and purely in Germany, our most beloved fatherland, after the darkness of papistical superstitions. And on this account, indeed, a brief and succinct confession was prepared from the Word of God, and the most holy writings of the Apostles and Prophets, which at the Diet of Augsburg, in the year 1530, was offered, by our most godly ancestors, in the German and Latin languages to the Emperor Charles V., of excellent memory, and was presented to [all] the deputies of the Empire, and finally being circulated publicly among all men professing Christian doctrine, and thus in th entire world,1 was diffused everywhere, and began to be current in the mouths and speech of all.

Afterwards many churches and schools embraced and defended this confession, as a symbol of the present time in regard to the chief articles of faith, especially those involved in controversy with the Romanists and various corruptions of the heavenly doctrine [sects], and with perpetual agreement have appealed to it without any controversy and doubt. The doctrine comprised in it, which they knew both to be supported by firm testimonies uf Scripture, and to be approved by the ancient and received iymbols, they have also constantly judged to be the only and

1 Commented on in Carpzov's Introduction, p. 14.

perpetual consensus of the truly believing Church, which was formerly defended against manifold heresies and errors, and b now repeated.

But it can be unknown to no one that, immediately after Dr. Martin Luther,1 that most distinguished hero, endowed with most eminent piety, was removed from human affairs, Germany, our dear fatherland, experienced most perilous times and most severe agitations. In these difficulties, and in the sad distraction of a government…