If the outcome, therefore, should be such that the differences
between us and the other parties in the matter of religion should
not be amicably and in charity settled, then here, before Your
Imperial Majesty we make the offer in all obedience, in addition
to what we have already done, that we will all appear and defend
our cause in such a general, free Christian Council, for the
convening of which there has always been accordant action and
agreement of votes in all the Imperial Diets held during Your
Majesty's reign, on the part of the Electors, Princes, and other
Estates of the Empire. To the assembly of this General Council,
and at the same time to Your Imperial Majesty, we have, even
before this, in due manner and form of law, addressed ourselves
and made appeal in this matter, by far the greatest and gravest.
To this appeal, both to Your Imperial Majesty and to a Council,
we still adhere; neither do we intend nor would it be possible
for us, to relinquish it by this or any other document, unless
the matter between us and the other side, according to the tenor
of the latest Imperial citation should be amicably and charitably
settled, allayed, and brought to Christian concord; and regarding
this we even here solemnly and publicly testify.


Article I: Of God.

Our Churches, with common consent, do teach that the decree of
the Council of Nicaea concerning the Unity of the Divine Essence
and concerning the Three Persons, is true and to be believed
without any doubting; that is to say, there is one Divine Essence
which is called and which is God: eternal, without body, without
parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the Maker and