Preface to the READER.

Dearly Beloved Reader.

Many years have already passed during which nothing but strife and quarreling has been heard throughout all of Christendom regarding matters of faith. For this reason, so many Colleges and UniversitiesThe original German "Collegia und Hohe Schulen" refers to the established academic and theological institutions of the 17th and 18th centuries. have been established in the world, so many heavy books have been written about controversial opinions in theological matters, so many Councils have been assembled, and so many great teachers have been brought together in our time—and all of this with such great care, diligence, effort, and expense—and yet, until now, it has not been possible to prevent discord and division. The schisms and disputes within Christendom are now greater than they have ever been. How many controversial opinions are there among the theologians? How many people have separated from the Roman Church to maintain their own opinions? How many of them are still within it, who in