Iudicium D. Philippi Melanchthonis De controversia Coenae Domini

A decorative drop cap 'I' featuring floral and foliate scrollwork.Most Illustrious and Clement Prince: It is most certain that legitimate governments are truly the work of God, who mercifully preserves the honest society of the human race. Therefore, I pray with all my heart to the true eternal GOD, the Father of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, the creator of the human race, who gathers the eternal Church through the voice of the Gospel, that He may strengthen the powers of soul and body of your Highness, and grant you salutary counsels and a happy government. I also rejoice that the Prince and Lord of my fatherland has been called to the knowledge of the Son of GOD, and rightly calls upon GOD, and fosters the Church of CHRIST: whom I pray that He may govern and protect the entire family of the Palatine Princes, and not allow it to be destroyed by barbaric devastation in my fatherland. I have read the letters of your Highness with reverence, and I have heard your most upright man, Stephanus: and I am sending to your Highness the written Response: and I desire most of all that the tender Churches may be tranquil everywhere. For this purpose it will be useful if the governors do not allow contrary opinions to be defended. I therefore approve the counsel of your Highness, that you have mandated silence to both parties. I desire, however, that through the counsel and authority of wise Princes at some point, and from the churches of other nations, and our own, pious and learned men may be convened, so that all controversies may be deliberated, and one consenting form of doctrine, true and clear, may be handed down to posterity without any ambiguity. In the meantime, as much as possible, let us foster the union of our Churches with moderate counsels.