The Doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity

Dedication.

[...cast] aside, so that the bright light of truth cannot be darkened by the darkness of the world. Indeed, even among the common crowd original: rohen Hauffen; literally "raw heap," referring to the uneducated or unrefined masses, one daily perceives that various individuals—after having tasted the pleasures of the world and found that no peace is to be met therein—finally turn inward and realize that they have hitherto been driven by nothing other than the senseless lusts of youth to cast off the yoke of Divine discipline. Meanwhile, in the midst of their foolish undertakings, they nevertheless constantly felt the power of God and clearly saw that they could not deny their Creator.

The same situation applies to those who devise their own form of worship original: GOttes-Dienst and—so that they are not entirely without discipline—invent for themselves a law and guideline. In other respects, however, they cast behind them all true knowledge of God and despise the investigation of eternal truth as mere scholastic bickering original: Schul-Gezänck; refers to the pedantic arguments often associated with academic theology. For even these people must tolerate the fact that there are others—to whom they can as little deny a sound mind as they can to themselves—who hold from their hearts to the truth revealed in Holy Scripture and view such self-devised worship as foolish and ill-advised.

Not to mention that one can easily show such people that their pretended justice, equity, and honesty original: prætendirtes justum, æquum & honestum goes no further than their own passions original: passiones wish to see it extended original: extendirt. Hence it happens that eventually some are found even among these who recognize that their principles are insufficient, and that a living cornerstone must necessarily be sought upon which they can securely erect their building. Many examples of this could be cited, if the narrow limits of this humble dedication original: Zuschrifft allowed. Nevertheless, Satan continues constantly to bewitch men in such a way that they either [deny] God their...