WEe IOHN STGISMOND by the grace of GOD, Marquesse of Branden­burgh, Arch-Chamber­laine of the sacred Roman Empire, and Prince Ele­ctor, Duke in Prussia, of Gulyke, Cle [...]e, Berg, Sretin, Pomern, of the Cass [...]bians & Wan­dals; also in Slesia, of Crossen and Jogerne­dorff: Vicount of Nurnberg Prince of Rugen, Earle of Marke and R [...]uensberg, Lord of Ra­uenstein. To our welbeloued and trustie, the most reuerend religious, high, wel learned and deuoted, all and singular, generall and speciall [Page 2] Superintendants Prelates, Ouerseers. Pa­rish Priests: And in generall, To all Mini­sters of the Church vnder our Dominions, of the Electorats and Marquessate of Branden­burg, on this and the other side of the Riuer of Oder, doe send our greeting; And besides we doe declare and let them know, That godly and Religious Princes, Soueraignes, and Magistrates in all Countries, and at all times haue considered properly to belong to their high places, offices, and charges to looke vnto subordinate causes, and to endeuor them­selues, That all the vnneedfull and friuolous contentions and disputations in the Pulpits, and all calumniations and comminations may be abolished, put downe, and taken away out of the Church, but especially such as stifle, and ouer-boldly doe vndertake the same, and con­trary to all Christian loue and charity, arro­gantly doe eyther assume or presume authority, to censure, taxe, and pronounce for Heretickes, yea and wholly to disallow and condemne o­ther churches within and without the Empire (ouer which they haue not any charge to com­mand or censure) not only with vnseemly sharp and bitter words, but also with all kinde of no­table and malicious surnames and slaunders, whereby the common people is not onely scan­dalized, and the Church preiudiced: But the edisication thereof is also apparently hindered.

And to omit and leaue all ancient examples and presidents of other Princes, That haue [Page 3] beene carefull and prouident to take order for all such triuiall and friuolous contentions and disputations in the Pulpits or else where, wee finde a commendable Example, and Memori­all of the late excellent prince Elector, Augustus of Saxonia, in the yeare of our Lord God 1566. and of the Dukes also of Brownswicke and Lunenburg, in the yeare of our Lord 1562. in the name of the common and generall churches of lowe Saxonia. Likewise the prince Elector Christian the first of Saxonia, and duke Ioachim Fredericke at Lignitz and Brieg, in the yeare 1601, Princes of famous memory haue left behind them this most commendable Example to immitate them. And not onely the aforesaid Presidents haue moued vs heereunto, but also amongst others this is not the least; That we haue had conference with other Electors prin­ces, and States, (howbeit there are very ma­ny amongst them, that do professe D. Luthers doctrine, yet we are agreed together) That in our countries and dominions also should be ta­ken such order and prouision, that there might euery way bee vsed and obserued all discretion and moderation by the Clergie in the Pulpits, and other publike assemblies: For to shun and auoyd all scandall; perturbation, or rather an intrication of consciences, and preiudice to the Church. Therefore euery man may easily per­ceiue and consider, what griefe it hath beene vnto vs. That now, a reasonable long time, there hath, by some of you (for in generall I can [Page 4] not accuse you) and surely by such as are indu­ced and entised thereunto, not out of a speciall zeale towards the truth of GOD, but rather out of ambition, arrogancie and pride, yet they could say and speake the least to it, if it should come to a triall, or else, if they could but get a little gaine by it, they would turne quite pa­pists, because that they seeke rather to be prai­sed by men then God; beene vsed without all shame and feare, so many acclamations, con­demnations, slanderings, thunderings, and reproachings, and at many times little regar­ding whether they bring foorth the truth or vn­truth or whether it be fitting or not fitting in the pulpit, but onely to discomfort true Chri­stians, and to make them grieue at it, when they in cooling their stomackes doe powre out their gall and venime, and make the Jesuites and Papists (our common and publique ene­mies) reioyce at it and make a laughing stocke of vs; besides this, they doe heere withall, but heape vpon themselues, and vpon their Audi­tors, the anger and wrath of God. For the ho­ly▪ Scripture teacheth vs quite otherwise, not willing that they that are vnited, and agreed with vs in the true grounds of faith and religi­on, and constantly and faithfully beleeue onely to be saued by, and through GODS mercy & the most precious merits of our only redeemer, Mediator and Sauiour Jesus Christ▪ exclu­ding and putting away all other Mediators and helpers, should either haue any priuate di­sturbance [Page 5] of conscience, or receiue other wrongs by publique scandals and calumniations, nor such as doe with vs also plant foorth Christ his Gospel, and stiffely fight for the same, and for the Gospels sake, yet haue they sustained and suffred of the Pope and his followers (common enemies of our true Religion) many innumera­ble persecutions, and doe daily sustaine and suf­fer them still, yea they haue very often with a speciall courage and magnanimity, gladly spent their bloods for the Gospels sake, then why should they bee excluded and seperated out and from the Christian Communion? Moreouer, the Scripture doth very earnestly commaund vs: That all matters in controuersie and in question should not be rebuked, reprooued, and contradicted by friuolous wordes, and slander, (which is the proper nature of the Diuell) nor by heare-saying, and false witnesses, nor in malicious and detestable manner, but out of meere ground of the word of God. The Scrip­ture commandeth moreouer, that it shall bee done and performed with Christian loue, and a meeke spirit, with friendship, patience, and with hartie compassion of those that be in error, and not with contentious, slanderous, and in­iurious wordes to the vndoing and destructi­on of the erroneous. Therefore euery one can iudge by himselfe, how farre these thundering exclaimers, aboue mentioned, doe destray from the right way, and what insupportable iudge­ment in the end shall come vpon them that doe [Page 6] indeuor themselues to rule much more ouer the consciences of man, then to further and increase the Church of God with good examples.

And forasmuch as it belongeth vnto vs, as Soueraigne of these countries▪ by God appoin­ted to follow and vse our office according vnto the first and the second Table of the ten Com­mandements of God; and because we will not make our selues partakers of such heauie sins: Therefore we doe statute, ordaine, and com­mand (howbeit many of you are already per­sonally admonished thereof, although little by you regarded,) That yee heereafter shall inde­uor your selues to preach and teach to the con­gregation and flocke committed to your seueral charges, the pure and cleare word of GOD, out of the Scriptures, of the Prophets, and Apostles, out of the foure capitall Symboles or Creedes, out of the reformed confession of Aug­spurg and the Apologie thereof, and without any deprauation and falsifying of the Scrip­tures, as also without the formular glosses of new Doctrine, which some lazie, curious, and prowd Theologians haue deuised and forged amongst themselues, to obtaine therewith the primacie in the Church and Secular power to themselues ye shall teach therefore and instruct the people with the pure word of God: For you shall draw more soules to the church of Christ, in seeking only the honor and glory of God, and the saluation of the people. And to the contra­rie, you shal leaue and shunne all railing, slande­ring, [Page 7] cursing, and banning other Churches that are not committed to your charges, and which as yet neuer were conuicted of anie errour by their due confession. For we cannot for consci­ence sake, longer abide and be silent vnto the same, and therefore if wee doe heare and per­ceiue, That one or more amongst you (whoso­euer hee or they bee, none excepted) that shall heereafter contemptuously transgresse this our earnest and straight Edict, being conformable to the word of God, they may certainely assure themselues, that they shall be sent for foorth­with to appeare at the Court, and there in our behalfe to be heard, and our meaning propoun­ded vnto them. And if we then yet cannot per­ceiue amendment in them, that he or they shall be put out of their place and office, and dismis­sed the same. Likewise they there shall be pro­ceeded against with due iustice, and seueritie of the Law that being sent for will not appeare, that they may bee brought to obedience: And wee doe admit and grant, and it is not against our will and pleasure, that if there be any zea­lous and curious among them that shall thinke their consciences to bee too straightly and nar­rowly charged with this our Christianlike and well-minded Edict and Proclamation, that they may prouide themselues otherwise with our full and free liberty and consent, and depart out of our Dominions, and take their residence in such places where such vnchristian contenti­ons, railings, calumniations, slandering, cur­sing, [Page 8] and banning other Christians and their co-members may be permitted and allowed vn­to them: For which they may expect, in time, of God Almightie their reward. Moreouer, we do statute, and our will and pleasure is, That if any of our Clergie for obeying this our Edict & commaund should be inuaded by other peace­hating people, and prouoked and entised to en­ter into dispute with them by preaching or wri­ting. That they to the contrary shall not com­mence nor beginne any thing without our spe­ciall priuitie, consent and leaue, much lesse to make any strife amongst them, but rather shall bee contented by the testimony and witnes of his conscience, and that he or they are innocent and vnguilty to the actions and doings preten­ded by other vnquiet spirites. And we doe not doubt, That as we haue publikely proclaimed and openly published vnto all men this our E­dict or Proclamation by induction of the word of God, onely to the end to procure, establish and further the peace, quietnes, vnitie, and e­dification of the Church in those Countries which are by the Almightie GOD committed vnto vs in these last and very dangerous days, wherein the Roman Antichrist thirsteth more, then before, after the blood of true Christians. That also euery one amongst you will be dili­gent, and indeuour themselues to maintaine peace, and vnitie, to auoyd all scandalls, and to shew their duetifull obedience, considering the command of the Apostle Paul, whereby hee [Page 9] doth admonish and exhort euery one to be obe­dient to their Soueraignes and Magistrates, and that yee may know that they doe not beare the sword for nothing, and in vaine, and that yee doe not moue vs to displeasure or indignati­on, or to vse against you the streight and sharp course of the Lawe. And hereby you shall full­fill our gracious, and likewise finall will, and good meaning, which towards you (vpon sure confidence of duetifull acknowledgement and obedience) we will be alwayes willing and rea­dy to make manifest. In witnesse whereof wee haue commanded our Signet to be heereupon imprinted. Dated at our Court at Colln vp­on the Riuer of Sprew the 24. day of the mo­neth of February 1614.