“We have no doctrine different from that of the Romish Church, (wir haben keinen von der Roemischen Kirche verschiedenen Lehrsatz,) yea, we have restrained many who wished to disseminate pernicious doctrines, as may be proved by public testimonies. [Note 9] We are prepared to obey the Romish Church, if, with that mildness which she has always manifested toward all men, she will only overlook and yield, some little, (einiges Wenige,) which we could not now alter if we would.” [Note 10] Let not your Eminence believe our enemies, who wickedly pervert our writings, and falsely impute to us anything which can inflame the general hatred against us.  We reverently pledge obedience [Note 11] to the authority of the Roman Pontif, [sic] and to the entire organization of the (Verfassung) of the [sic on repetition] church, only let not the Pope of Rome reject us.  Many feel assured, that if your Eminence were better acquainted with our cause and views, you would not approve of these violent counsels.  For no other reason do we incur greater hostility in Germany, than because we defend the doctrines of the Romish [Note 12] Church with the utmost steadfastness.  This fidelity, if the Lord will, we will show to the Romish Church until our last breath.  There is indeed some small difference in usages, which seems to be unfavorable to union.  But the ecclesiastical laws themselves declare, that the unity of the church may continue even amid such diversity of customs.” [Note 13]

Is it possible that any impartial man, after reading this letter can suppose the circumstances of this diet to have been favorable to a free and full expression of the points of dissent, between the Protestants and Papists, even at that day?  During the entire six weeks that Melancthon was at Augsburg, before the arrival of the Emperor, his mind was in this agitated and alarmed condition.  According to his own account he continued daily to make changes in the Confession, after it had been submitted to Luther.  No wonder, therefore, that Luther, responding to Melancthon’s inquiry, “what more they could yield to the Romanists,” makes this rather dissatisfied reply, under date June 29:  “Your Apology (the Augsburg Confession, as altered by Melancthon. after Luther had sanctioned it on the 15th of May, and it had been presented to tho diet on the 25th of June,) I have received, and wonder what you mean, when you desire to know, what and how much, may be yielded to the papists.  As far as I am concerned, TOO MUCH HAS ALREADY BEEN YIELDED TO THEM IN THE APOLOGY (Confession).” [Note 14] Here it in evident that the various changes, made by Melancthon between the 15th of May and 25th of June, led Luther to affirm what American Lutherans now maintain, that he had yielded too much to the papists in the Augsburg Confession_.  “I daily altered and recast the greater part of it, (says Melancthon himself,) and would [Note 15] have altered still more if our