§ 41. The Augsburg Confession, 1530.
Literature.
I. Editions, Latin and German. In the general collections of Lutheran Symbols, by Rechenberg, Walch, Hase, Müller, etc. (see § 40).
II. Separate Editions of the Augs. Conf.--in Latin or German, or both--by Twesten (1816), Winer (1825), Tittmann (1830), Spieker (1830), M. Weber (1830), Wiggers (1830), Beyschlag (1830), Funk (1830), Förstemann (1833), Härter (1838). The best critical edition of the Latin and German texts, with all the variations, is contained in the Corpus Reformatorum, ed. Bretschneider and Bindseil, Vol. XXVI. (issued, Brunsvigæ, 1858), pp. 263 sqq.
For lists of older editions, see Köllner, Symbolik, I. p. 344-353, and Bindseil, in Corp. Ref. Vol. XXVI. pp. 211-263.
III. English Translations. In Henkel's Book of Concord, 1854, and a better one by Dr. Charles P. Krauth: The Augsburg Confession, literally translated from the original Latin, with the most important Additions of the German Text incorporated, together with Introduction and Notes. Philadelphia, 1869. The same, revised for this work, Vol. II. pp. 1 sqq.
IV. Historical and Critical documents and works on the Augsburg Confession:
Philippi Melanthonis Opera in the second and twenty-sixth volumes of the Corpus Reformatorum, ed. Bretschneider and Bindseil. Vol. II. (Halis Saxonum, 1835) contains the Epistles of Melanchthon from Jan. 1, 1530, to Dec. 25, 1535; Vol. XXVI. (Brunsv. 1858, pp. 776), the Augsburg Confession itself, with all the preliminary labors and important documents connected therewith.
Luther's Briefe, in De Wette's ed., Vol. IV. pp. 1-180.
E. Sal. Cyprian: Historia der Augsburgischen Confession, etc. Gotha, 1730, 4to.
Christ. Aug. Salig: Vollständige Historie der Augsburg. Confession und derselben Apologie, etc. 3 Thle. Halle, 1730-35, 4to.
G. G. Weber: Kritische Geschichte der Augsb. Conf. aus archivalischen Nachrichten. Frank. a. M. 1783-84, 2 vols.
K. Pfaff: Geschichte des Reichstags zu Augsburg, im Jahr 1530, und des Augsb. Glaubensbekenntnisses bis auf die neueren Zeiten, Stuttgart, 1830, 8vo; 2 Parts.
Carl Eduard Förstemann: Urkundenbuch zur Geschichte des Reichstags zu Augsburg, im Jahr 1530, etc., 2 vols. Halle, 1833-35, 8vo.
C. Ed. Förstemann: Neues Urkundenb. zur Gesch. der ev. Kirchen-Reform. Hamb. 1842, Vol. I. pp. 357-380. Die Apologie der Augsburg. Confession in ihrem ersten Entwurfe.
A. G. Rudelbach: Die Augsb. Conf. aus und nach den Quellen, etc. Leipzig, 1829. Histor. critische Einleit. in die Augsb. Conf., etc. Dresden, 1841.
J. E. Calinich: Luther und die Augsb. Confession (gekrönte Preisschrift). Leipz. 1861.
G. Plitt: Einleitung in die Augustana. Erlangen, 1867-68, 2 Parts.
O. Zöckler: Die Augsburgische Confession als Lehrgrundlage der deutschen Reformationskirche historisch und exegetisch untersucht. Frankfurt a. M. 1870.
Comp. also Ranke: Deutsche Geschichte im Zeitalter der Reformation, III. pp. 186 sqq. (3d ed. 1852), and the relevant sections in Marheineke, Merle D'Aubigné, Hagenbach, and Fisher, on the History of the Reformation.
See lists of Literature especially in Köllner, Symb. I. pp. 150 sqq., 345 sqq.; also J. T. Müller, Die Symb. Bücher der evang. luth. Kirche, XVII.; C. P. Krauth, Select Analytical Bibliography of the Augsb. Conf. (Phila. 1858); and Zöckler, Die Augsb. Conf. pp. 1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 35, 44, 52, 61, 74, 85-88; and Corp. Ref. Vol. XXVI. pp. 102 sqq.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY.
The Augsburg Confession, at first modestly called an Apology, after the manner of the early Church in the ages of persecution, was occasioned by the German Emperor Charles V., who commanded the Lutheran Princes to present, at the Diet to be held in the Bavarian city of Augsburg, an explicit statement of their faith, that the religious controversy might be settled, and Catholics and Protestants be united in a war against the common enemies, the Turks. [406] Its deeper cause must be sought in the inner necessity and impulse to confess and formularize the evangelical faith, which had been already attempted before. It was prepared, on the basis of previous drafts, and with conscientious care, by Philip Melanchthon, at the request and in the name of the Lutheran States, during the months of April, May, and June, 1530, at Coburg and Augsburg, with the full approval of Luther. It was signed, August 23, by seven German Princes (the Elector John of Saxony and the Landgrave Philip of Hesse, etc.) and the deputies of two free cities (Nuremberg and Reutlingen). This act required no little moral courage, in view of the immense political and ecclesiastical power of the Roman Church at that time. When warned by Melanchthon of the possible effects of his signature, the Elector John of Saxony nobly replied: 'I will do what is right, unconcerned about my electoral dignity; I will confess my Lord, whose cross I esteem more highly than all the power of the earth.'
On the 25th of June, 1530, the Confession was read aloud, in the German language, [407] before the assembled representatives of Church and State, and in the hearing of a monarch in whose dominions the sun never set.
This formed an important epoch in the history of the Reformation. The deputies, and the people who stood outside, listened attentively for two hours to the new creed. The Papists were surprised at its moderation. The Bishop of Augsburg is reported to have said privately that it contained nothing but the pure truth. Duke William of Bavaria censured Dr. Eck for misrepresenting to him the Lutheran opinions; and when the Romish doctor remarked that he could refute them with the Fathers, though not with the Scriptures, the Duke replied, 'I am to understand, then, that the Lutherans are within the Scriptures, and we are on the outside.' The Emperor himself, a bigoted Spaniard, a master in shrewd policy, little acquainted with the German language and spirit, and still less with theology, after respectfully listening for a while, fell asleep during the delivery, [408] but graciously received the Latin copy for his own use, and handed the German to the Elector of Mayence for safe keeping in the imperial archives, yet prohibited the publication without his permission. Both copies are lost.
The Diet ordered a committee of about twenty Romish theologians, among whom were Eck, Faber, Cochlæus, and Wimpina, to prepare a refutation of the Confession on the spot. Their scholastic Confutatio, the result of five successive drafts, was a far inferior production, and made little impression upon the Diet, but it fairly expressed the views of the Emperor and the majority of the States, and was accepted as a satisfactory refutation of the Confession. [409] Melanchthon answered it by his 'Apology of the Augsburg Confession,' but the Diet refused even to receive the reply; and, after several useless conferences, resolved, Sept. 22 and Nov. 19, 1530, to proceed with violent measures against the Protestants if they should not return to the Catholic faith before the 15th of April of the following year.
The Elector John, justly styled the Constant, with all his loyalty to the Emperor and wish for the peace of Germany, refused to compromise his conscience, and, in full view of the possible ruin of his earthly interest, he resolved to stand by 'the imperishable Word of God.' [410] The heroic spirit of the Reformers in these trying times found its noblest expression in the words and tune of Luther's immortal battle-song, based on Psalm. xlvi.:
'A tower of strength our God is still,
A mighty shield and weapon;
He'll help us clear from all the ill
That hath us now o'ertaken.
. . . . . . . . .
'And though they take our life--
Goods, honor, children, wife--
Yet is their profit small;
These things shall vanish all--
The City of God remaineth.'