The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

comfort of the conscience, as also for the edification of believers." It calls
the things it sets forth "the one, simple truth," and styles them "the chief,"
or fundamental, "Articles" (Hauptartikeln.)
The Confessors style and characterize the Confession as "our
Confession," as "the chief points of the doctrine taught in our Churches,"
as "the main (or fundamental) Articles," as "the Articles of faith." They
say: "Those things only have been recited which seemed necessary to be
said, that it might be understood, that, in doctrine and ceremonies, nothing
is received by us contrary to Scripture;” and they declare, at the close of
their work, that it was meant as "a sum of doctrine," or statement of its
chief points, "for the making known of our Confession, and of the doctrine
of those who teach among us." 188
6. The Confessors say of this statement of the main points of
doctrine: "In it may be seen, that there is NOTHING which departs from
the Scriptures;" “it is clearly founded in the holy Scriptures," 189 "in
conformity with the pure, Divine word and Christian truth." They declare,
that, in these "main" or fundamental "Articles, no falsity or deficiency is to
be found, and that this their Confession is godly and Christian (göttlich
und Christlich)." They open the Articles on Abuses by reiterating that their
Confession is evidence, that, "in the Articles of faith, NOTHING is taught
in our Churches contrary to the Holy Scripture," 190 and the Confessors
close with the declaration, that, if there be points on which the Confession
has not touched, they are prepared to furnish ample information, "in
accordance with the Scriptures," "on the ground of holy Divine writ."
7. The Confessors say that in the Confession: "There is NOTHING
which departs from the Church Catholic, the Universal Christian
Church." 191
8. The Confessors moreover declare, that they set forth
188 Epilogue, 69, 5.
189 Epilogue, 70, 6.
190 Nihil inesse, quod discrepat a Scripturis - in heiliger Schrift klar gegründet.
191 Ab Ecclesia Catholica - gemeine, Christlicher Kirchen.