al Synod,
as the terms _Danish_ Lutheran, or _Swedish_ Lutheran, and _German_
Lutheran, indicate the peculiarities of our church in those countries.
Some of our best _American_ Lutherans are natives of foreign lands.

In conclusion, we repeat the assurance, that it has been with deep
regret that we have felt compelled, in defence of American, that is,
New School Lutheranism, to exhibit what we regard the errors of the
former symbols. But as the existence of these errors has of late years
been perseveringly denied, and New School Lutherans have been
incessantly reproached for not yielding an unqualified assent, to these
books, necessity was laid on us; and the evil of the controversy, if
any, lies at the door of the aggressors.

Praying that our Divine Master may bless this little volume to the
advancement of his glory and the welfare of his church, we submit it
to the friends of truth.

S. S. SCHMUCKER.
Gettysburg, April 23d, 1856.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.....13
Religious Controversy. Plea of Rev. Mann. Apostolic Church. Authority
of Creeds. Apostles' Creed. Augsburg Confession-altered by Melancthon.

CHAPTER II.
REPLY TO THE GENERAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE PLEA.....24
Augsburg Confession the only universal symbol of the Lutheran Church.
Definite Platform liberal. The Episcopalians, Presbyterians and
Methodists, altered their European Creeds in this country. Creeds
subordinate, to Scripture. Progressive light of Scripture. Human
creeds fallible. Drs. Lochman, Endress, F. C. Schaeffer, Hazelius,
Bachman, &c. Origin of the Definite Synodical Platform. Dr. Kocher on
Creeds.

CHAPTER III.
DISADVANTAGES UNDER WHICH THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION WAS PREPARED.....47
Diet of Augsburg. Alarm of Melancthon-his complaints to Luther-his
letters to Camerarius, remarkable letter to Campegius. Luther checks
Melancthon's Concessions.

CHAPTER IV.
POSITIONS OF THE DEFINITE SYNODICAL PLATFORM ESTABLISHED.....57
The Reformers progressive. Rigid Symbolic System rejected in Germany.
Reinhard, Knapp, Storr, Olshausen, Tholuk, Hengstenberg, &c. Analysis
of the American Recension of the Augsburg Confession, it is almost the
entire Augsburg Confession.

CHAPTER V.
SYNODICAL DISCLAIMER.....63
Luther on the Elevation of the Host. Ceremonies of the Mass. Drs.
Murdock, Fuhrman. Import of the term Mass among Romanists, and amongst
the Reformers whilst in the Romish Church. Testimony of Luther in his
Treatise on the Mas