_The Smalcald Articles.
                      Articles of Christian Doctrine
               which were to have been presented on our part
           to the Council, if any had been assembled at Mantua
               or elsewhere, indicating what we could accept
                      or yield, and what we could not._
                         by Dr. Martin Luther, 1537
                   Translated by F. Bente and  W. H. T. Dau
                                Published in:
                  _Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books
                        of the Ev. Lutheran Church_.
        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921), pp. 453-529.
 
        THE SECOND PART
         
        Article III: Of Chapters and Cloisters.
         
        That chapters and cloisters [colleges of canons and
        communistic dwellings], which were formerly founded with the
        good intention [of our forefathers] to educate learned men and
        chaste [and modest] women, ought again to be turned to such
        use, in order that pastors, preachers, and other ministers of
        the churches may be had, and likewise other necessary persons
        [fitted] for [the political administration of] the secular
        government [or for the commonwealth] in cities and countries,
        and well-educated, maidens for mothers and housekeepers, etc. 
         
        If they will not serve this purpose, it is better that they be
        abandoned or razed, rather than [continued and], with their
        blasphemous services invented by men, regarded as something
        better than the ordinary Christian life and the offices and
        callings ordained by God. For all this also is contrary to the
        first chief article concerning the redemption made through
        Jesus Christ. Add to this that (like all other human
        inventions) these have neither been commanded; they are
        needless and useless, and, besides, afford occasion for
        dangerous and vain labor [dangerous annoyances and fruitless
        worship], such services as the prophets call Aven, i.e., pain
        and labor. 
        
 
       _________________________________________________________________ 
 
       This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by 
       Allen Mulvey and is in the public domain.  You may freely 
       distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any comments 
       or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at 
       Concordia Theological Seminary. 
 
                        E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu 
          Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft.  Wayne, IN 46825 USA 
       Phone: (260) 481-2123                        Fax: (260) 481-2126 
       ________________________________________________________________ 





       file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/concord/smc-02c.txt

       .