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

III. As soon as the answers were received, the Elector Augustus, with
the concurrence of Brunswick and Würtemberg, called together the three
greatest of the co-workers, Chemnitz, of Brunswick, Andreae, of Tübingen,
and Selneccer, of Leipzig, to revise the Torgau Formula in the light of the
expressed judgments of the Churches. They met, with the cordial consent
of the Abbot Ulner, at the Cloister of Bergen, near Magdeburg.
1. Here the Torgau Formula was submitted to its first revision, March
1-14, 1577. The work was done very conscientiously. Every suggestion
was carefully weighed, and estimated at its real value, the treatment was
made more compact, and an Epitome of the Solid Declaration was
prepared. The theory, that a second revision was made in April, at Bergen,
has little to sustain it.
2. The second and final revision of the Torgau Formula took place at
Bergen, May 19-28, 1577. To the "first Triumvirate" Brandenburg added
Corner, and Musculus, of Frankfort on the Oder, and Mecklenburg, at the
special request of Augustus, sent Chytraeus of Rostock. Though they
passed over the Formula with minute care, they found little to change.
IV. The last touches were put to the work. At this stage, (May 28,
1577,) we know it as the Bergen Formula. It was to be known in history as
the Formula of Concord, for this it was. Between this time and its
publication in 1580, no change was made in it. There waited in it a silent
might which the magic touch of the press was to liberate, to its great
mission in the world.
V. But wonderful as had been the work done, much yet remained to
be done. When the Church first saw clearly the way in which peace was to
be won, she saw that it involved four problems: 1. The determination what
writings were to be her standard of teaching; where was to be found a
statement of doctrine which the Lutheran Church could accept
unreservedly as her Confession. 2. The preparation of a Confession which
should apply the doctrines of holy Scripture, and of the earlier standards of
teaching, to the new issues which convulsed the Church, and should
protect the older standards