The Augsburg Confession, 465th Anniversary Edition | Page 3

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Preface to the Emperor Charles V.
Most Invincible Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Most Clement Lord:
Inasmuch as Your Imperial Majesty has summoned a Diet of the
Empire here at Augsburg to deliberate concerning measures against the
Turk, that most atrocious, hereditary, and ancient enemy of the
Christian name and religion, in what way, namely, effectually to

withstand his furor and assaults by strong and lasting military provision;
and then also concerning dissensions in the matter of our holy religion
and Christian Faith, that in this matter of religion the opinions and
judgments of the parties might be heard in each other's presence; and
considered and weighed among ourselves in mutual charity, leniency,
and kindness, in order that, after the removal and correction of such
things as have been treated and understood in a different manner in the
writings on either side, these matters may be settled and brought back
to one simple truth and Christian concord, that for the future one pure
and true religion may be embraced and maintained by us, that as we all
are under one Christ and do battle under Him, so we may be able also
to live in unity and concord in the one Christian Church.
And inasmuch as we, the undersigned Elector and Princes, with others
joined with us, have been called to the aforesaid Diet the same as the
other Electors, Princes, and Estates, in obedient compliance with the
Imperial mandate, we have promptly come to Augsburg, and -- what
we do not mean to say as boasting -- we were among the first to be
here.
Accordingly, since even here at Augsburg at the very beginning of the
Diet, Your Imperial Majesty caused to be proposed to the Electors,
Princes, and other Estates of the Empire, amongst other things, that the
several Estates of the Empire, on the strength of the Imperial edict,
should set forth and submit their opinions and judgments in the German
and the Latin language, and since on the ensuing Wednesday, answer
was given to Your Imperial Majesty, after due deliberation, that we
would submit the Articles of our Confession for our side on next
Wednesday, therefore, in obedience to Your Imperial Majesty's wishes,
we offer, in this matter of religion, the Confession of our preachers and
of ourselves, showing what manner of doctrine from the Holy
Scriptures and the pure Word of God has been up to this time set forth
in our lands, dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our
churches.
And if the other Electors, Princes, and Estates. of the Empire will,
according to the said Imperial proposition, present similar writings, to
wit, in Latin and German, giving their opinions in this matter of
religion, we, with the Princes and friends aforesaid, here before Your
Imperial Majesty, our most clement Lord are prepared to confer

amicably concerning all possible ways and means, in order that we may
come together, as far as this may be honorably done, and, the matter
between us on both sides being peacefully discussed without offensive
strife, the dissension, by God's help, may be done away and brought
back to one true accordant religion; for as we all are under one Christ
and do battle under Him, we ought to confess the one Christ, after the
tenor of Your Imperial Majesty's edict, and everything ought to be
conducted according to the truth of God; and this it is what, with most
fervent prayers, we entreat of God.
However, as regards the rest of the Electors, Princes, and Estates, who
constitute the other part, if no progress should be made, nor some result
be attained by this treatment