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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: thus excited the minds of good men, they have first given
occasion to this controversy, and now endeavor, by the same
arts, to increase the discord. For Your Imperial Majesty will
undoubtedly find that the form of doctrine and of ceremonies
with us is not so intolerable as these ungodly and malicious
men represent. Besides, the truth cannot be gathered from
common rumors or the revilings of enemies. But it can readily
be judged that nothing would serve better to maintain the
dignity of ceremonies, and to nourish reverence and pious
devotion among the people than if the ceremonies were observed
rightly in the churches.
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