PREFACE

I had already decided—unless something similar or even more bitter were to be thrust upon me—that amidst the perpetual occupations of my duties and studies, and in my now advancing age, I would not dispute further about these many matters, but would leave them to others. This was especially so because it seemed to me, and to many good men, that a certain satisfaction had been reached. I felt that the opportunity for the Waldensian Ministers The "Waldensian Ministers" here refers to the Bohemian Brethren, a pre-Reformation Christian group that the author views as theological rivals who were drawing members away from the established Lutheran churches. to alienate more people from our Churches in the future and draw them into their own society had been, in some way, cut off—as the situation itself has shown in various places, and especially in the neighboring Church then entrusted to me.

Nor do I add much regarding the fact that I had allowed myself to be persuaded that not everything had been inserted into their Confessions by deliberate choice and after careful consideration original: "ἐκ προαιρέσεως καὶ περιεσκεμμένως", but rather thoughtlessly and without foresight original: "ἀπρονοήτως καὶ ἀπερισκέπτως", or that their actions against us and our Churches until now were perhaps unintentional. For this reason, I judged that I should yield to the times, hoping that if both sides remained quiet, it might eventually happen that they would correct certain things of their own accord. I hoped that—following the holy advice of Dr. Luther Martin Luther (1483–1546), the leader of the German Reformation., or rather the command of the Apostle himself in 1 Corinthians 1:10 This verse reads: "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you..."—if they did not wish for there to be fewer schisms Schism: A formal split or division within a religious body., they might at least administer their affairs more cautiously in the future by straying less from the path.

But truly, to the most Merciful GOD, who is aware of all things, and who at last brings into the light original: "in apricum profert"; a Latin idiom meaning to bring something out into the sunshine or to make it public. both well-done and ill-done deeds, and the truth not at all...