Ad omnes Germaniae ecclesias reformatas, piorum, qui sub Zvingliani et Calviniani nominis invidia, vim & iniuriam patiuntur, apologia

It is most equitable that the other side also be heard before a sentence is passed. We have not yet been able to obtain this from everyone, because those who keep the minds of otherwise excellent Princes in ignorance stand in the way. They fill their ears with calumnies so that they may think nothing is more absurd, more harmful, or more impious than our doctrine. Thus, access for our apologies and responses is closed off, so that neither the noble Princes nor the people can see how little sincerity they employ in handling this case. Yet the Apostles command us to test all things and to discern the spirits to see if they are from God, and they say that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, such that if something is revealed to anyone sitting in the Church, they give room to speak. Who, then, is that spirit who pronounces on all things by private whim, refuses to be subjected to any censorship, and yet insultingly strikes those whom he ought to recognize as his fellow servants? The ancient Emperors, Theodosius and Valentinian, decreed that no one should copy or read the impious books of Nestorius; Valentinian and Marcian ordered the same regarding the books of the Apollinarians and Eutychians. But those examples do not support our adversaries, nor should the same law be established regarding our books. For those whom we have just named were, after the case was legitimately investigated, convicted of error and condemned.