Praefatio ad Caesarem Carolum V
Imperial Invitation and the Hope of Unity
The Emperor's call to Augsburg for defense against the Turk opens the door to healing divisions in the Christian faith and restoring harmony.
Most invincible Emperor, Caesar Augustus, most merciful lord. When V. C. M. proclaimed the imperial assembly at Augsburg, so that deliberation might be held about aids against the Turk — most savage, hereditary, and ancient enemy of the Christian name and religious life — namely, how his fury and efforts, and his lasting and perpetual preparation for war, can be resisted. Then, regarding the disagreements over our holy religious life and the Christian faith, the opinions and views of the parties should be heard openly, understood, and weighed among themselves in love, gentleness, and mutual mildness. So then, setting aside and correcting those matters on both sides that have been otherwise treated or understood in the writings, let those matters be composed and brought into one simple truth and Christian harmony. So that, from now on, one sincere and true religious life may be worshipped and preserved among us, in order that — just as we are one and serve under one Christ — so we too may be able to live in one Christian Church, in unity and harmony.
Obedient Arrival and Humble Readiness
The confessors arrive promptly at Augsburg, humbling themselves as among the first to obey the Emperor's command.
And so we who are subscribed below — the Elector and the Princes, along with the others who are joined to us — just as the other Electors and Princes and estates have been called to the aforementioned assembly, have come promptly to Augsburg, so that we might obediently comply with the emperor's command. And — without any boasting — what we mean to say is this: we were among the first to be present.
The Imperial Edict and the Promise of Confession
The Emperor's edict requiring written confessions leads the Lutherans to offer their doctrine drawn from Scripture.
Since, then, the Emperor [V.] C. M. had also caused this to be published here in Augsburg, to the Electors, Princes, and other Estates of the Empire, right at the opening of this Diet among the rest of the proceedings, that each Estate of the Empire should, by the authority of the Emperor's edict, set forth and present its own opinion and judgment in both the German and Latin languages. And after deliberation had been held on the following Wednesday, the response was given to His Imperial Majesty Charles the Fifth that on the following Saturday we would present the articles of our confession on our behalf. Therefore, so that Your Majesty may be obeyed, we offer in this matter of religion our preachers and our confession — what sort of doctrine they have hitherto handed down in our territories, dominions, and cities, and handled in the churches, drawn from the holy Scriptures and the pure Word of God.
A Desire for Peaceful Reconciliation
The confessors express readiness to confer with others in love, seeking one true faith under Christ through fervent prayer.
And if the other Electors, Princes, and Estates of the Empire have likewise produced their opinions in this religious cause, in similar writings—both Latin and German—according to the aforementioned imperial proposal, we here before Your Imperial Majesty C. M. —as to our most merciful Lord—we offer ourselves, ready to confer with the aforementioned princes and our friends about tolerable means and ways, so that, as honorably as possible, we may come together and, with the matter between us settled peaceably and without bitter contention, by God's gift, our disagreement may be resolved and brought back to one true and harmonious religious life. Since we all belong to one Christ and serve under him, we must all confess one Christ, in keeping with the terms of the emperor's edict.✦ C. M. and may everything be brought to the truth of God—this we ask of God with the most fervent prayers.
Testimony to Sincere Love and Openness
Though past exchanges have borne little fruit, the confessors testify to their sincere desire for Christian harmony and invite gracious consideration.
But as for what concerns the other electors, princes, and estates insofar as the other side is involved, this treatment of the religious case — in the manner in which Charles V C. M. has guided the matter to be conducted and addressed wisely — namely, that through such a mutual exchange of writings and a calm comparison between us, it has not progressed, nor has it produced any fruit. We, for our part, clearly testify here that we shrink in no way from anything that can contribute to reconciling Christian harmony — the kind that can be achieved with God and a good conscience. Just as His Imperial Majesty Charles the Fifth then the other electors and estates of the empire, and all who are moved by a sincere love and zeal for the religious life, and all who will hear this case with an open mind — from this confession of ours and of our people, they will graciously deign to recognize and understand this.
The Emperor's Efforts and the Roman Response
The Emperor's repeated appeals for a council meet with Roman reluctance, as the pontiff is urged to consent to a general council.
Since even V. C. M. to the electors, princes, and remaining estates of the empire he has graciously indicated not just once but often, and at the imperial diets held at Speyer, which took place in the year of our Lord, etc. 26. were delivered according to the prescribed form of your imperial instruction and commission to be recited and read aloud publicly by your Majesty. In this matter of religion, for certain reasons, which V. M. They have stated that under the name cited, they do not wish anything to be decided or settled, but that it lies with the Roman pontiff, for his office, V. C. M. that careful effort would be given to convening a general council. This same point was set forth more fully a year ago at the last public assembly, which was gathered at Speyer. Where V. C. M. through Lord Ferdinand, King of Bohemia and Hungary, our friend and merciful lord, and then through the envoy and the imperial commissioners, he had these things proposed among the rest, that V. C. M. had understood and weighed the position of the one holding office. V. C. M. within the empire, and of the president and councilors in the government, and of envoys from other states who had gathered at Regensburg, about the deliberation concerning the assembling of a council. And that he would also judge Charles V C. M. it would be useful for a Council to be gathered, and because the causes that were then being discussed between Charles V C. M. and Rome the Pontiff, who would be close to concord and to Christian reconciliation, Charles V would not doubt C. M. indeed Rome the Pontiff could be led to hold a general Council.
Appeal to a General Council
The confessors formally appeal to a free Christian council, having already lodged their appeal in proper legal form.
For this reason he was indicating to Your Imperial Majesty C. M. that he would ensure the aforementioned Pontiff Maximus, together with Your Imperial Majesty, C. M. would consent to convene such a general Council, to be published and gathered at the earliest possible time by letters sent out. So if the disagreements between us and the parties are not resolved in a friendly manner and in love in this matter of religious life, then before His Imperial Majesty C. M. here, in all obedience, we offer ourselves, ready beyond measure to appear and to plead our case in such a general, free, and Christian council — the convening of which in all the Imperial Diets has always been provided for by the electors, princes, and remaining estates of the Empire, and has been unanimously and consistently carried out and concluded with due votes. C. M. by which council — to be convened in all the Imperial Diets — it has always been unanimously provided and concluded with due votes by the electors, princes, and remaining estates of the Empire. To the meeting of this general Council as well, and to Your C. M. in this by far the greatest and most serious case, we have already beforehand, in the proper manner and in legal form, both appealed and lodged appeal.
Solemn Public Testimony
The confessors solemnly testify that they will not abandon the council unless the matter is settled in love and Christian harmony.
To that appeal, to the V. C. M. At the same time, we still hold to the Council, and we do not intend or have the ability to abandon it through this or any other treatise — unless the matter between us and the parties is settled in a friendly spirit and according to the terms of the most recent imperial summons, composed and calmed in love, and brought back to Christian harmony. We also solemnly and publicly testify about this matter here.
Read the original Latin
Invictissime Imperator, Caesar Auguste, Domine clementissime. Cum V. C. M. indixerit conventum Imperii Augustae, ut deliberetur de auxiliis contra Turcam atrocissimum haereditarium, atque veterem Christiani nominis ac religionis hostem, quomodo illius scilicet furori et conatibus, durabili et perpetuo belli apparatu resisti possit.
Deinde et de dissensionibus in causa nostrae sanctae religionis et Christianae fidei, et ut in hac causa religionis, partium opiniones, ac sententiae inter sese, in caritate, lenitate, et mansuetudine mutua audiantur coram, intelligantur et ponderentur.
Ut illis, quae utrinque in scripturis secus tractata aut intellecta sunt, sepositis et correctis, res illae ad unam simplicem veritatem et Christianam concordiam componantur et reducantur.
Ut de caetero a nobis una, sincera et vera religio colatur, et servetur, ut, quemadmodum sub uno Christo sumus et militamus: ita in una etiam Ecclesia Christiana, in unitate et concordia vivere possimus.
Cumque nos infra scripti Elector et Principes, cum aliis qui nobis coniuncti sunt, perinde ut alii Electores et Principes et Status ad praefata Comitia evocati sumus, ut Caesareo mandato obedienter obsequeremur, mature venimus Augustam. Et quod citra iactantiam dictum volumus, inter primos affuimus.
Cum igitur V. C. M. Electoribus, Principibus et aliis Statibus Imperii, etiam hic Augustae sub ipsa initia horum Comitiorum inter caetera proponi fecerit, quod singuli Status Imperii vigore Caesarei edicti, suam opinionem et sententiam in Germanica et Latina lingua proponere debeant atque offerre.
Et habita deliberatione proxima feria quarta, rursum responsum est V. C. M. nos proxima feria sexta Articulos nostrae confessionis pro nostra parte oblaturos esse.
Ideo ut V. M. voluntati obsequamur, offerimus in hac religionis causa nostrorum Concionatorum, et nostram confessionem, cuiusmodi doctrinam ex scripturis sanctis, et puro verbo Dei, hactenus illi in nostris terris, ducatibus, ditionibus, et urbibus tradiderint, ac in Ecclesiis tractaverint.
Quod si et caeteri, Electores, Principes, ac Status Imperii, similibus scriptis Latinis scilicet et Germanicis, iuxta praedictam Caesaream propositionem, suas opiniones in hac causa religionis produxerint, hic nos coram V. C. M. tanquam domino nostro clementissimo paratos offerimus, nos cum praefatis Principibus et amicis nostris, de tolerabilibus modis ac viis amice conferre, ut quantum honeste fieri potest, conveniamus, et re inter nos partes, citra odiosam contentionem pacifice agitata, Deo dante, dissensio dirimatur, et ad unam veram concordem religionem reducatur.
Sicut omnes sub uno Christo sumus, et militamus, et unum Christum confiteri debemus, iuxta tenorem edicti V. C. M. et omnia ad veritatem Dei perducantur, id quod ardentissimis votis a Deo petimus.
Si autem, quod ad caeteros Electores, Principes et Status, ut partem alteram attinet, haec tractatio causae Religionis, eo modo, quo V. C. M. agendam et tractandam sapienter duxit, scilicet, cum tali mutua praesentatione scriptorum ac sedata collatione, inter nos non processerit, nec aliquo fructu facta fuerit, nos quidem testatum clare relinquimus, hic nihil nos quod ad Christianam concordiam (quae cum Deo et bona conscientia fieri possit) conciliandam conducere queat, ullo modo detrectare.
Quemadmodum et V. C. M. deinde et caeteri Electores, et Status Imperii, et omnes, quicunque sincero religionis amore ac studio tenentur, quicunque hanc causam aequo animo audituri sunt, ex hac nostra et nostrorum confessione hoc clementer cognoscere et intelligere dignabuntur.
Cum etiam V. C. M. Electoribus, Principibus et reliquis Statibus Imperii non una vice, sed saepe clementer significaverit, et in Comitiis Spirensibus, quae anno Domini etc. XXVI. habita sunt, ex data et praescripta forma vestrae Caesareae instructionis et commissionis recitari, et publice praelegi fecerit: Vestram M. in hoc negotio religionis ex causis certis, quae V. M.
nomine allegatae sunt, non velle quicquam determinari, nec concludere posse, sed apud Pontificem Romanum pro officio V. C. M. diligenter daturam operam de congregando Concilio generali.
Quemadmodum idem latius expositum est ante annum in publico proximo conventu, qui Spirae congregatus fuit.
Ubi V. C. M. per dominum Ferdinandum Boemiae et Ungariae Regem, amicum et dominum clementem nostrum, Deinde per Oratorem, et Commissarios Caesareos, haec inter caetera proponi fecit, quod V. C. M. intellexisset et expendisset Locum tenentis. V.
C. M. in imperio, et praesidentis et Consiliariorum in Regimine, et Legatorum ab aliis Statibus qui Ratisponae convenerant, deliberationem de Concilio congregando.
Et quod iudicaret etiam V. C. M. utile esse, ut congregaretur Concilium, et quia causae, quae tum tractabantur inter V. C. M. et Rom. Pontificem, vicinae essent concordiae et Christianae reconciliationi, non dubitaret V.
C. M. quin Roma. Pontifex adduci posset ad habendum generale Concilium.
Ideo significabat se V. C. M. operam daturam ut praefatus Pontif. Maximus una cum V. C. M. tale generale Concilium, primo quoque tempore emissis literis publicandum congregare consentiret.
In eventum ergo talem quod in causa religionis, dissensiones inter nos et partes amice et in caritate non fuerint compositae, tunc coram V. C. M. hic in omni obedientia nos offerimus, ex superabundanti comparituros et causam dicturos in tali generali libero et Christiano Concilio, de quo congregando in omnibus Comitiis Imperialibus, quae quidem annis Imperii, V. C. M. habita sunt per Electores, Principes, et reliquos Status Imperii, semper concorditer actum, et congruentibus suffragiis conclusum est.
Ad cuius etiam generalis Concilii conventum, simul et ad V. C. M. in hac longe maxima et gravissima causa, iam ante etiam debito modo et in forma iuris provocavimus, et appellavimus.
Cui appellationi ad V. C. M. simul et Concilium adhuc adhaeremus, neque eam per hunc vel alium tractatum (nisi causa inter nos et partes, iuxta tenorem Caesareae proximae Citationis amice in caritate composita, sedata, et ad Christianam concordiam reducta fuerit) deserere intendimus aut possumus.
De quo hic etiam solenniter et publice protestamur.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gal.3.28 — There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
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