| 
    The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: THE ABUSES WHICH HAVE BEEN 
CORRECTED. 
 Inasmuch, then, as our churches dissent in no article of the 
faith from the Church Catholic, but only omit some abuses 
which are new, and which have been erroneously accepted by the 
corruption of the times, contrary to the intent of the Canons, 
we pray that Your Imperial Majesty would graciously hear both 
what has been changed, and what were the reasons why the 
people were not compelled to observe those abuses against 
their conscience. Nor should Your Imperial Majesty believe 
those who, in order to excite the hatred of men against our 
       |