lf, without caring the least in the world about majority or
minority."
Also they said, "What! we ratify this edict! We assert that when
Almighty God calls a man cannot, however, receive the knowledge
of God! . . . For this reason we reject the yoke that is imposed upon
us."
"Moreover, the new edict declaring the ministers shall
preach the Gospel, explaining it according to the writings
accepted by the holy Christian church; we think that, for this
regulation to have any value, we should first agree on what is
meant by the true and holy church. Now, seeing that there is
great diversity of opinion in this respect; that there is no sure
doctrine but such as is conformable to the word of God; we are
resolved, with the grace of God, to maintain the pure and
exclusive preaching of His holy word, such as it is contained in
the biblical books of the old and new testament, without adding
anything thereto that may be contrary to it.
"This Word is the only truth; it is the sure rule of all
doctrine, and of all life, and can never fail or deceive us. He
who builds on this foundation shall stand against all the human
vanities that are set up against it shall fall before the face of
God.
"For these reasons, most dear lords, uncles, cousins, and
friends, we earnestly entreat you to weigh carefully our
grievances and our motives. If you do not yield to our request
we PROTEST by these presents, before God, our only Creator,
Preserver, Redeemer, and Savior, and who will one day be our
Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures that we, for us
and for our people, neither consent nor adhere in any manner
whatsoever to the proposed decree, in anything that is contrary
to God, to His holy word, to our right conscience, to the
salvation of our souls, and to the last decree of Spires."
Thus, in the presence of the Diet, "spoke out those courageo
