The truthful ordinance that was agreed and confirmed on the last day of the Council of the Realm’s meeting in the city of Odense concerning how church services may be held in Denmark and Norway and in the Dukedoms of Slesvig and Holstein.

If any priests are in possession of any sinful books that they may not sell for revenue.

Since there are many harmful books in circulation these days, which not only mislead the ignorant but also the learned, all good parish priests must use only such books as have been approved by wise and learned men, so that they do not lead astray and cause harm to those who trust in them.

Above all other books, they should use the Holy Bible, which is the source of true piety.

Then they are to use Martin Luther's Sermon Book, in which he explains the Sunday Gospel and gives instructions on how the Gospel should be interpreted.

III. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession, in which all Christian faith and doctrine are confirmed and explained with Christian reasoning, and which gives guidance in how to believe and teach.

IIII. Philipp Melanchthon’s Loci Communes, in which the most useful and necessary articles are collected and presented in a simple and effective way.

V. Another good book with which they may facilitate the instruction of children is Luther's Small Catechism, so that they may know and rightly learn the first principles of true godliness.

VI. The Ordinances of the Church [Instructionem Visitationis Saxonicæ], as well as one of our books of ordinances [may be used], to show which passages may be particularly instructive and instructing.

No new books may be printed by printers in these realms, whether they be in Danish, Latin or German, or whether they be Danish publications; [no new books] may be imported here from abroad, if they contain anything concerning the faith, or concerning

the government and economic management (husholdning) of these realms or towns, unless they have first been approved by our University (høige Schole). All the superintendents in Denmark bear witness to this.

Nor do we wish that any person in these realms should print manuals, missals or other ceremonial books with new songs or clerical duties in Danish, to be sung with Latin notes, as the rebellious Müntzer did, because their use is not necessary. We would not encourage new choirboys to sing such inappropriate songs. Furthermore, we forbid the printing of new prayers or collections unless they are intended for Mass or for singing or reading, which should be done with the consent of the university and all the superintendents. They shall not otherwise engage in the making of books, nor in the formulation of statutes and regulations. Every parish or church may be content with this way of worshipping and our ordinances of these realms. Every parish priest may make his own Christian collects,

even for special occasions, but they should be very brief. It is not necessary to pray everywhere in the same manner with the prescribed words, where one can otherwise rightly invoke the commandments, the pastoral epistles, and the gospel in Danish, which can be read in Danish in the books [listed above]. Prefaces should never be sung alone, especially not in Latin and in the merchant cities, notably on holy days.