Page "Formula of Concord" Paragraph 3

Over the eleven months following the publication of the Torgau Book, suggested emendations were sent to Andreä and Chemnitz, and further revision was deemed necessary, so the second group ( Andreä, Chemnitz, Selnecker, Chytraeus, Musculus, and Körner ) revised the Torgau Book into its final form, known as the Bergic Book or the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord.

( Depending on the translation, the Solid Declaration is also known as the Thorough Declaration of the Formula of Concord.

) It was presented to Elector August of Saxony on May 28, 1577.

Subsequently it was signed ( subscribed to ) by three electors of the Holy Roman Empire, twenty dukes and princes, twenty-four counts, four barons, thirty-five free imperial cities, and over 8, 000 pastors.

These constituted two-thirds of the Lutheran Church in Germany at the time.

Every clergyman in the Electorate of Saxony had to either subscribe or write his objections with respect to the Formula of Concord.

A rhyme was circulated the time: " Write, dear Sir, write, that you might remain at the parish " ( schreibt, lieber Herre, schreibt, dass Ihr bei der Pfarre bleibt ).