Creeds, confessions, covenants, etc.

Title: Creeds of Christendom, Volume III. The Creeds of the Evangelical Protestant Churches. Creator(s): Schaff, Philip Print Basis: 1889 (Baker reprint) Rights: Public Domain CCEL Subjects: All; Creeds; History; Symbols; Reference; Proofed LC Call no: BT990 LC Subjects:

Doctrinal theology

Bibliotheca Symbolica Ecclesiæ Universalis.

THE CREEDS OF CHRISTENDOM

WITH

A HISTORY AND CRITICAL NOTES

PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., LL.D.

IN THREE VOLUMES

FOURTH EDITION--REVISED AND ENLARGED

VOLUME III

THE EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CREEDS, WITH TRANSLATIONS

BAKER BOOK HOUSE

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Reprinted by arrangement with

Harper and Row, Publishers

Paperback edition issued April 1977

by Baker Book House

ISBN: 0-8010-8090-8

The Creeds of Christendom

Printed in the United States of America

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Page facsimile

CONFESSIO AUGUSTANA.

The Augsburg Confession. A.D. 1530.

[The Latin text is from the editio princeps, 1531, as printed in the best editions of the 'Book of Concord,' and especially (with all the various readings) in the Corpus Reformatorum, ed. Bindseil, Vol. XXVI. (1858), pp. 263-336. I have inserted in brackets the most important additions of the German text, and marked in foot-notes the chief alterations of the edition of 1540. The English translation (in the style of the sixteenth century) was prepared (1868), and at my request carefully revised for this work (1874), by my friend, The Rev. Dr. Charles P. Krauth, Vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and Professor of Theology in the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia. First English translation by Richard Taverner, London, 1536; recent translations, more or less complete, by S. S. Schmucker (1834): E. Hazelius (1841), Ambrose and Socrates Henkel (1851 and 1854). See Vol. I. § 41, pp. 225 sqq.]

Confessio Fidei Confession of Faith

Exhibita Invictissimo Imperatori Carolo V. Cæsari Augusto in Comiciis Augustæ. Anno MDXXX. [1]

Presented to the Invincible Emperor Charles V., Cæsar Augustus, at the Diet of Augsburg, Anno Domini MDXXX. [2] -------- --------

Et loquebar de testimoniis tuis in conspectu Regum, et non confundebar.--Psalm cxix. 46.

I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.--Psalm cxix. 46. -------- -------- Præfatio ad Cæsarem Carolum V. Preface to the Emperor Charles V. Invictissime Imperator, Cæsar Auguste, Domine clementissime. Cum V.C.M. indixerit conventum Imperii Augustæ, ut deliberetur de auxiliis contra Turcam, atrocissimum, hæreditarium atque veterem Christiani nominis ac religionis hostem, quomodo illius scilicet furori et conatibus durabili et perpetuo belli apparatus resisi posit; deinde et de dissensionibus in causa nostræ sanctæ religionis et Christianæ fidei, et ut in hac causa religionis partium opiniones ac sententiæ inter sese in caritate, lenitate et mansuetudine mutua audiantur coram, intelligantur et ponderentur, ut illis, quæ utrinque in Scripturis secus tractata aut intellecta sunt, sepositis et correctis, res illæ ad unam simplicem veritatem et Christianam concordiam componantur et reducantur; ut de coetero a nobis una, sincera et vera religio colatur et servetur Most Invincible Emperor, Cæsar Augustus, Most Clement Master: Inasmuch as Your Imperial Majesty has summoned a Convention of the Empire at Augsburg, to deliberate in regard to aid against the Turk, the most atrocious, the hereditary, and ancient enemy of the Christian name and religion, in what way, to wit, resistance might be made to his rage and assaults, by protracted and perpetual preparation for war: Because, moreover, of dissensions in the matter of our holy religion and Christian faith, and in order that this matter of religion the opinions and judgments of diverse parties may be heard in each other's presence, may be understood and weighed among one another, in mutual charity, meekness, and gentleness, that those things which in the writings on either side have been handled or understood amiss, being laid aside

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 conjuncti sunt, perinde ut alii Electores et Principes et Status ad præfata Comitia evocati simus, ut Cæsareo mandato obedienter obsequeremur, mature venimus Augustam; et, quod citra jactantiam dictum volumes, inter primos affuimus. and corrected, these things may be harmonized and brought back to the one simple truth and Christian concord; so that hereafter the one unfeigned and true religion may be embraced and preserved by us, so that as we are subjects and soldiers of the one Christ, so also, in unity and concord, we may live in the one Christian Church: And inasmuch as we, the Elector and Princes, whose names are subscribed, together with others who are conjoined with us, in common with other Electors, and Princes, and States, have been called to the aforenamed Diet,--we have, in order to render most humble obedience to the Imperial Mandate, come early to Augsburg, and, with no desire to boast, would state that we were among the very first to be present. Cum igitur V.C.M. Electoribus, Principibus et aliis Statibus Imperii etiam hic Augustæ sub ipsa initia horum Comitiorum inter coetera proponi fecerit, quod singuli Status Imperii vigore Cæsarei 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 nostræ Confessionis pro nostra parte oblaturos esse: When, therefore, Your Imperial Majesty, among other things, has also at Augsburg, at the very beginning of these sessions, caused the proposition to be made to the Princes and States of the Empire, that each of the States of the Empire, in virtue of the Imperial Edict, should propose and offer in the German and in the Latin language its opinion and decision; after discussion on Wednesday we replied to Your Imperial Majesty, that on the following Friday we would offer on our part the Articles of our Confession: Ideo V.C.M. voluntati obsequamur, offerimus in hac religionis causa nostrorum Concionatorum et nostram Confessionem, cujusmodi 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 coeteri Electores, Principes ac Status Imperii, similibus scriptis, Latinis scilicet et Germanicis, juxta prædictam Cæsaream propositionem, suas opiniones in hac causa religionis produxerint: hic nos coram V.C.M. tanquam Domino nostro clementissimo paratos offerimus, nos cum præfatis Principibus et amicis nostris de tollerabilibus modis ac viis amice conferre, ut, quantum honeste fieri potest, conveniamus, et Wherefore, in order that we may do homage to the will of Your Imperial Majesty, we now offer in the matter of religion the Confession of our preachers and of ourselves, the doctrine of which, derived from the Holy Scriptures and pure Word of God, they have to this time set forth in our lands, dukedoms, domains, and cities, and have taught in the churches. If the other Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire, should in similar writings, to wit, in Latin and German, according to the aforementioned Imperial proposition, produce their opinions in this matter of religion: we here, in the presence of Your Imperial Majesty, our most Clement Lord, offer ourselves, prepared, in conjunction with the Princes and

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, juxta tenorem edicti V.C.M. et omnia ad veritatem Dei perducantur, id quod ardentissimis votis a Deo petimus. our friends already designated, to compare views in a kindly manner in regard to mode and ways which may be available, so that, as far as may honorably be done, we may agree, and the matter between us of both parts being peacefully discussed, with no hateful contention, by God's help the dissension may be removed, and brought back to one true accordant religion (as we are all subjects and soldiers under one Christ, so also we ought to confess one Christ, in accordance with the tenor of the decree of Your Imp. M.), and all things should be brought back to the truth of God, which with most fervent prayers we beseech God to grant. Si autem, quod ad coeteros Electores, Principes et Status, ut partem alteram, attinet, hæc tractatio causæ religionis, eo modo, quo V.C.M. agendam et tractandam sapienter duxit, scilicet cum tali mutua præsentatione 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 (quæ cum Deo et bona conscientia fieri posit) conciliandam conducere queat, ullo modo detrectare; quemadmodum et V.C.M. deinde et coeteri Electores et Status Imperii et omnes, quicunque sincero religionis amore ac studio tenentur, quicunque hanc causam æquo animo audituri sunt, ex hac nostra et nostrorum Confessione hoc clementer cognoscere et intelligere dignabuntur. But if, as regards the rest of the Electors, Princes, and States, those of the other party, this treatment of the matter of religion, in the manner in which Your I. M. has wisely thought fit it should be conducted and treated, to wit, with such a mutual presentation of writings and calm conference between us, should not go on, nor be attended by any result; yet shall we leave a clear testimony that in no manner do we evade any thing which can tend to promote Christian concord (any thing which God and a good conscience allow); and this Your I. M. and the other Electors and States of the Empire, and all who are moved by a sincere love of religion and concern for it, all who are willing to give an equitable hearing in this matter, will kindly gather and understand from the Confession of ourselves and of ours. Cum etiam V.C.M. Electoribus, Principibus et reliquis Statibus Imperii non una vice, sed sæpe clementer significaverit, et in Comitiis Spirensibus, quæ anno Domini etc. XX VI. habita sunt, ex data et præscripta forma vestræ Cæsareæ instructionis et comissionis recitari et publice prælegi fecerit: Vestram M. in hoc negocio religionis ex causis certis, quæ V.M. nomine allegatæ sunt, non velle quicquam determinare, nec concludere posse, sed apud Pontificem Romanum pro officio V.C.M. diligenter daturam operam de congregando Concilio generali. Quemadmodum Since, moreover, Your I. M. has not once only, but repeatedly signified to the Electors, Princes, and other States of the Empire; and at the Diet of Spires, which was held in the year of our Lord 1526, caused to be recited and publicly proclaimed, in accordance with the form of Your Imperial instruction and commission given and prescribed: That Your I. M. in this matter of religion for certain reasons, stated in the name of Your Majesty, was not willing to determine, nor was able to conclude touching any thing, but that Your I. M. would diligently endeavor to have the Roman Pontiff,

idem latius expositum est ante annum in publico proximo conventu, qui Spiræ congregatus fuit. Ubi V.C.M. per Dominum Ferdinandum, Bohemiæ et Ungariæ Regem, amicum et Dominum clementem nostrum, deinde per Oratorem et Comissarios Cæsareos, hæc inter coetera proponi fecit, quod V.C.M. intellexisset et expendisset Locum Tenentis V.C.M. in Imperio et Præsidentis et Consiliariorum in Regimine et Legatorum ab aliis Statibus, qui Ratisbonæ convenerant, deliberationem de Concilio congregando, et quod judicaret etiam V.C.M. utile esse, ut congregaretur Concilium, et quia causæ, quæ tum tractabantur inter V.C.M. et Romanum Pontificem, vicinæ essent concordiæ et Christianæ reconciliationi, non dubitaret V.C.M. quin Romanum Pontifex adduci posset ad habendum generale Concilium: ideo significabat se V.C.M. operam daturam, ut præfatus Pontifex Maximus una cum V.C.M. tale generale Concilium primo quoque tempore emissis literis publicandum congregare consentiret. in accordance with his office, to assemble a General Council; as also the same matter was more amply set forth a year ago in the last public Convention, which was held at Spires, where through His Highness Ferdinand, King of Bohemia and Hungary, our friend and clement Lord, afterward through the Orator and the Imperial Commissioners, Your I. M., among other propositions, caused these to be made: that Your I. M. had known and pondered the resolution to convene a Council, formed by the Representatives of Your I. M. in the Empire, and by the Imperial President and Counselors, and by the Legates of other States convened at Ratisbon, and this Your I. M. also judged that it would be useful to assemble a Council; and because the matters which were to be adjusted at this time between Your I. M. and the Roman Pontiff were approaching agreement and Christian reconciliation, Your I. M. did not doubt that, but that the Pope could be induced to summon a General Council: Wherefore Your I. M. signified that Your I. M. would endeavor to bring it to pass that the Chief Pontiff, together with Your I. M., would consent at the earliest opportunity to issue letters for the convening of such a General Council. In eventum ergo talem, quod in causa religionis dissensiones inter nos et partes amice et in caritate non fuerint compositæ, 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, quæ quidem annis Imperii V.C.M. habita sunt, per Electores, Principes et reliquos Status Imperii semper concorditer actum et congruentibus suffragiis conclusum est. Ad cujus etiam generalis Concilii conventum, simul et ad V.C.M. in hac longe maxima et gravissima causa jam ante etiam debito modo et in forma juris provocavimus et appellavimus. Cui appellationi ad V.C.M. simul et Concilium adhuc adheremus, neque eam per hunc vel alium tractatum In the event, therefore, that in this matter of religion the differences between us and the other party should not be settled in friendship and love, we here present ourselves before Your I. M. in all obedience, as we have done before, ready to appear and to defend our cause in such a general, free, and Christian Council, concerning the convening of which there has been concordant action and a determination by agreeing votes on the part of the Electors, Princes, and the other States of the Empire, in all the Imperial Diets which have been held in the reign of Your I. M. To this Convention of a General Council, as also to Your I. M., we have in the due method and legal form before made our protestation and appeal in this greatest and gravest of matters. To which appeal both to Your I. M.