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

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Torgau was finished. <strong>The</strong> theologians who met May 29, were ready with<br />

the Torgau Opinion (Bedenken) June 7th, 1576. All the theologians had<br />

borne an active part in its preparation, but Andreae <strong>and</strong> Chemnitz are<br />

justly regarded as its authors.<br />

Formula. History of the Third Period.<br />

<strong>The</strong> THIRD PERIOD of the history of the Formula of Concord<br />

opens with the sending forth of the Torgau Formula for examination by the<br />

Churches, (1576), <strong>and</strong> ends with the publication of the Book of Concord,<br />

1580. I. <strong>The</strong> Elector AUGUSTUS, (June 7, 1576), having carefully<br />

examined the Torgau Formula, <strong>and</strong> having laid it before his counsellors,<br />

submitted it to the Evangelical orders of the Empire, in order that it might<br />

be thoroughly tested in every part.<br />

II. <strong>The</strong> work was everywhere received with interest. Twenty<br />

conventions of theologians were held in the course of three months. <strong>The</strong><br />

Formula was scrutinized in every part. <strong>The</strong> work found little favor with the<br />

Calvinists, whether secret or avowed. <strong>The</strong> Reformed held a Conference at<br />

Frankfurt, Sept., 1577, to avert what they considered a condemnation of<br />

their party. Delegates were there from other countries. Elizabeth, Queen of<br />

Engl<strong>and</strong>, sent ambassadors to several of the Evangelical States, <strong>and</strong><br />

especially to the Elector Augustus, to avert the imaginary condemnation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Elector, in a courteous but firm letter, assured the Queen, through the<br />

King of Denmark, that the object of the Formula was to correct <strong>and</strong><br />

prevent errors within the Churches of the Augsburg Confession, not to<br />

pass condemnation on other Churches. Some of the friends of<br />

Melanchthon thought that the Formula failed in not recognizing his merits.<br />

On the part of a few theologians, there was a scarce suppressed ill-humor<br />

that they had not been consulted in the preparation of the Formula. But the<br />

great mass of the twenty-five responses testified to a general approval of<br />

the Formula, <strong>and</strong> showed that the pure faith still lived. Many opinions of<br />

great value were expressed involving no change in doctrine, but suggesting<br />

various additions, omissions, <strong>and</strong> alterations of language. It was clear that<br />

the book had not yet reached the shape in which it could fully meet the<br />

wants of the Church.

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