Translating the Augsburg Confession Part LXVI (Epilogus)

Epilogus.

Hi sunt praecipui articuli, qui videntur habere controversiam. Quamquam enim de pluribus abusibus dici poterat[1], tamen, ut[2] fugeremus prolixitatem, praecipua complexi sumus, ex quibus cetera facile iudicari possunt. Magnae querelae fuerunt de indulgentiis, de peregrinationibus, de abusu excommunicationis. Parochiae multipliciter vexabantur per stationarios.[3] Infinitae contentiones erant pastoribus cum monachis de iure parochiali, de confessionibus, de sepulturis, de extraordinariis concionibus et de aliis innumerabilibus rebus.

Huiusmodi negotia praetermisimus, ut[4] illa, quae sunt in hac causa praecipua, breviter proposita facilius cognosci possent. Neque hic quidquam[5] ad ullius contumeliam dictum aut collectum est. Tantum ea recitata sunt, quae videbantur necessario dicenda esse,[6] ut[7] intelligi possit, in[8] doctrina ac ceremoniis apud nos nihil esse receptum contra Scripturam aut ecclesiam catholicam, quia manifestum est, nos[9] diligentissime cavisse, ne[10] qua nova et impia dogmata in ecclesias nostras serperent.

Hos articulos supra scriptos voluimus exhibere iuxta edictum Caesareae Maiestatis, in quibus confession nostra exstaret et eorum, qui apud nos docent, doctrinae summa cerneretur. Si quid[11] in hac confessione desiderabitur, parati sumus latiorem informationem, Deo volente, iuxta Scripturas exbibere.

Caesareae Maiestatis Vestrae fideles et subditi:[12]

Ioannes, Dux Saxoniae, Elector.

Georgius, Marchio Brandenburgensis.

Ernestus, Dux Luneburgensis.

Philippus, Landgravius Hessorum.

Ioannes Fridericus, Dux Saxoniae.

Franciscus, Dux Luneburgensis.

Volfgangus, Princeps ab Anhalt.

Senatus Magistratusque Nurnbergensis.

Senatus Reutlingensis.

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[1] Dici poterat: an impersonal construction: there can be said

[2] Ut…prolixitatem: a purpose clause

[3] Stationarios: Stationarii

[4] Ut…possent: a purpose clause

[5] Neque hic quidquam: And nothing here…

[6] Dicenda esse: a passive periphrastic

[7] Ut intelligi possit: a purpose clause

[8] In…catholicam: an indirect statement where nihil is the accusative subject and esse receptum is the infinitive main verb

[9] Nos…cavisse: an indirect statement

[10] Ne…serperent: a negative purpose clause

[11] Si quid: Si [ali]quid

[12] Fideles et subditi: description of the signatories: your faithful and obedient

These are the principal articles which seem to hold controversy. For although there can be much said about the many abuses, nevertheless, in order to avoid prolonged discourse, we have covered the foremost from which the others easily can be judged. There were great quarrels about indulgences, pilgrimages, and about the abuse of excommunication. Parishes in many different ways were annoyed by the Stations. There were endless disputes for the pastors with the monks about the right of a parish, about confessions, about burials and about special preachers and innumerable other things.

We have overlooked trouble of this sort so that those things, which are foremost in this cause, and have been briefly related, are able to more easily be understood. And nothing here has been said or assembled to insult anyone. Only those things have been recited which seemed necessarily must be said so that it could be understood that in the doctrine and ceremonies among us nothing has been received contrary to the Scripture or the church catholic because it is clear that we have been cautious lest any new and impious teachings creep into our churches.

We wish to display those articles which have been written before in accordance with the edict of Your Imperial Majesty in which our confession is on the record and summary of the doctrine of those who teach among us is seen. If anything is desired in this confession, we are prepared to present more information in accordance with the Scriptures if God wills it.

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