Ratio ineundae Concordiae inter Ecclesias reformatas, sive, quibus modis occurri possit mirificis artibus, quibus pontificii per quosdam imprudentes theologos universas Christi ecclesias potissimum autem et primum Germanicas pessundare conantur

those who are called to this and are capable. Just as we here in turn, both in our writings and in our sermons, are entirely quiet and refrain from clamors against yours, lest by any occasion given by us, the concord—which we desire with all our heart to see, God knows—be hindered. And for this glory, there have been enough clamors and struggles thus far, if only these had been able to effect anything. And above all, I want you to be asked this most submissively, that you would persuade yourselves regarding me, as one who truly feels with his whole heart, such that as much as is entirely possible for me, nothing shall be wanting in me that will contribute to the progress of concord. God knows this, whom I call as witness to my soul. For discord has profited neither me nor anyone else; indeed, it has hindered more people, so much so that no good or benefit was hoped for from it until now, nor is it to be hoped for in the future.

He perhaps thinks himself alone.

But to come to your articles, I find nothing worthy of reprehension in that first one regarding the vocal word. For we do not teach otherwise than that the Holy Spirit works internally in the heart of the listeners, and that the external word alone will effect nothing. Otherwise, if it consisted of the external word alone, everyone who heard it would turn out to be a believer, which does not happen at all, as experience testifies. And Lord Paul says in Romans 10: But did they not hear? Yet not all have hearkened to the Gospel. Nevertheless, this very vocal Gospel is to be called the Word of God, the power of God for salvation to every believer (Romans 1), so that through it, God calls and draws those whom He wills through His Holy Spirit. If there is anything further in this article written by both of us, about which we cannot understand each other so clearly and expressly (for we cannot use the same method and phraseology alike), Lord Capito and Martin Bucer know how to provide themselves as mediators, so that each point may be explained perspicuously, expressly, and as well as possible.