To the Christian Reader, Peace and the Grace of God through Christ,—­There are many Anti-Christians who now take occasion to libel the Gospel on account of the assembled peasantry, saying these be the fruits of the New Gospel, to obey none, to raise rebellion in all places, to rush to arms to reform, to root out, and perhaps to destroy all spiritual and temporal authority.  All such godless and wicked judgements the Articles here written do answer; in the first place, so that the shame may be lifted off the word of God; in the second, to excuse in a Christian manner this uprising of the peasants.

In the first place, the Gospel is no cause of any uprising, seeing that it is the word of Christ, the promised Messiah, whose word and life teach naught save love, peace, patience and unity; so all who believe in this Christ should be loving, peaceful, patient and united.  The object of all the Articles of the Peasants, when once clearly apprehended, is that they may hear the Gospel and live according to the Gospel.  How then can Anti-Christians denounce the Gospel as a cause of rebellion and disobedience?  But that Anti-Christians and Enemies of the Gospel should rise up against such requirements, of this the Gospel is not the cause, but the Devil, the most hurtful enemy of the Gospel, who arouses infidelity in his followers, so that the word of God, which teaches peace and unity, may be trodden down and taken away.

In the second place, the following show clearly that the peasants in their Articles demand the Gospel for teaching and for life; therefore they cannot be called disobedient or rebellious.  But should God hear the peasants, who sincerely desire to live according to His word:  Who will oppose the will of God? (Rom. xi.).  Who will impeach His judgment? (Isa. xi.).  Who dare resist His majesty? (Rom. viii.).  Did He not hear the Children of Israel when they called on Him, and delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh (II Moses 3. 7), and can He not to-day also save His own?  Aye, He will save them, and that speedily (Luke xviii. 8).  Therefore, Christian Reader, read the following Articles sedulously, and then judge.

FIRST ARTICLE.

It is our humble request and desire, as also our will and intention, that henceforth the community itself shall have power to choose their Pastor, as also to dismiss him should he be found unsuitable.  The Pastor so chosen shall preach to us the Gospel clearly and purely, free from all man-made additions, teachings and ordinances.  For whoever preaches to us the true Faith giveth us reason to pray to God for His mercy, and to call up within us and confirm us in the true Faith.  For if we do not enjoy His grace, we remain mere flesh and blood, which profiteth not.  It is clearly written in the Scriptures that it is only through the true Faith that we can come to God, and only through His mercy that we can be saved.  Therefore it is that we require such a Pastor and Minister.