To the Readers, one and all, of these Writ- ings of ours, we, the Electors, Princes, and Deputies of the Holy Roman Empire in Ger- many, adherents of the Augsburg Confession, who have subscribed our names to the same, announce and declare, according to the dig- nity 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 after the darkness of papistical super- stitions the light of His Gospel and Word, through which alone we receive true salva- tion, should arise and shine clearly and purely in Germany, our most beloved fatherland. And on this account, indeed, a brief and suc- cinct confession was prepared from the Word of God, and the most holy writings of the Prophets and Apostles, and 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 laid before [all] the deputies of the Empire, and finally, being circulated publicly among all men professing Christian doctrine, and thus in the entire world, was diffused everywhere, and began to he current in the mouths and speech of all. Afterwards many churches and schools em- braced and defended this Confession as a sym- bol 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 of Scripture, and to be approved by the ancient and accepted symbols, they have also con- stantly judged to be the only and perpetual consensus of the truly believing Church, which was formerly defended against mani- fold heresies and errors, and is now repeated. But it can be unknown to no one that, im- mediately after Dr. Martin Luther, that most distinguished hero, endowed with most emi- nent piety, was removed from human affairs, Germany, our dear fatherland, experienced most perilous times and most severe agita- tions. In these difficulties, and in the sad distraction of a government before flourish- ing and well regulated, the enemy of mortals cunningly labored to scatter in the churches and schools the seeds of false doctrine and dissensions, to excite divisions combined with offense, and by these arts of his to corrupt the purity of the heavenly doctrine, to sever the bond of Christian love and godly agree. ment, and to hinder and retard to a greater degree the course of the most holy Gospel. It is also known to all in what manner the enemies of the heavenly doctrine seized this opportunity to disparage our churches and
