Affirmativa. Affirmative.
Sincera doctrina, fides et confessio, cum superiore norma et compendiosa declaratione consentiens.
The pure doctrine, faith and confession, agreeing with our above-stated norm and compendious declaration. I. Credimus, docemus et confitemur, quod sit aliquod discrimen inter ipsam hominis naturam, non tantum, quemadmodum initio a Deo purus, et sanctus, et absque peccato homo conditus est, verum etiam, qualem jam post lapsum naturam illam habemus, discrimen, inquam, inter ipsam naturam, quæ etiam post lapsum est permanetque Dei creatura, et inter peccatum originis, et quod tanta sit illa naturæ et peccati originalis differentia, quanta est inter opus Dei, et inter opus Diaboli. I. We believe, teach, and confess that there is a distinction between the nature of man itself, not only as man was created of God in the beginning pure and holy and free from sin, but also as we now possess it after our nature has fallen; a distinction, namely, between the nature itself, which even after the fall is and remains God's creature, and Original Sin; and that this difference between nature and Original Sin is as great as between the work of God and the work of the devil. II. Credimus, docemus et confitemur, quod summo studio hoc discrimen sit conservandum propterea quod illud dogma, nullum videlicet inter naturam hominis corrupti et inter peccatum originis esse discrimen, cum præcipuis Fidei nostræ articulis (de creatione, de redemtione, de sanctificatione et resurrectione carnis nostræ) pugnet, neque salvis hisce articulis stare possit. II. We believe, teach, and confess that this distinction should be maintained with the greatest care, because the dogma that there is no distinction between the nature of fallen man and Original Sin is inconsistent with the chief articles of our faith (of Creation, of Redemption, of Sanctification, and the Resurrection of our flesh), and can not be maintained except by impugning these articles. Deus enim non modo Adami et Hevæ corpus et animam ante lapsum, verum etiam corpora et animas nostras post lapsum creavit; etsi hæc jam aunt corrupta. For God not only created the body and soul of Adam and Eve before the fall, but has also created our bodies and souls since the fall, although these are now corrupt.
Et sane hodie Dominus animus et corpora nostra creaturas et opus suum esse agnoscit, sicut scriptum est (Job x. 8): 'Manus tuæ fecerunt me, et plasmaverunt me totum in circuitu.' And to-day no less God acknowledges our minds and bodies to be his creatures and work; as it is written (Job x. 8): 'Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about.' Et Filius Dei unione personali illam humanam naturam, sed sine peccato, assumsit, et non alienam, sed nostram carnem sibi adjungens arctissime copulavit, ejusque assumtæ carnis ratione vere frater noster factus est; ut Scriptura testatur (Heb. ii. 14): 'Posteaquam pueri commercium habent cum carne et sanguine, et ipse similiter particeps factus est eorundem.' Item (ii. 16): 'Non Angelos assumit, sed semen Abrahæ assumit, unde et debuit per omnia fratribus assimilari, excepto peccato.' And the Son of God, by a personal union, has assumed this nature, yet without sin; and uniting not other flesh, but our flesh to himself, hath most closely conjoined it, and in respect of this flesh thus assumed he has truly become our brother; as the Scripture bears witness (Heb. ii. 14): 'Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.' Also (ii. 16): 'For verily he took not on him angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, yet without sin.' Eandem humanam nostram naturam (opus videlicet suum) Christus redemit, eandem,(quæ ipsius opus est) sanctificat, eandem a mortuis resuscitat, et ingenti gloria (opus videlicet suum) ornat: peccatum autem originale non creavit, non assumsit, non redemit, non sanctificat, non resuscitabit in electis, neque unquam gloria cælesti ornabit aut salvabit, sed in beata illa resurrectione plane This same human nature of ours (that is his own work) Christ has redeemed, the same (inasmuch as it is his own work) he sanctifies, the same doth he raise from the dead, and with great glory (as being his own work) doth he crown it. But Original Sin he has not created, has not assumed, has not redeemed, doth not sanctify, will not raise again in the elect, nor will ever save and crown with heavenly
abolitum erit [sondern in der Auferstehung gar vertilget sein wird]. glory, but in that blessed resurrection it shall be utterly abolished and done away. Ex his, quæ a nobis allata sunt, discrimen inter corruptam naturam, et inter corruptionem, quæ naturæ infixa est, et per quam natura est corrupta, facile agnosci potest. From these considerations which have been advanced by us, the distinction between our corrupt nature and the corruption which is implanted in the nature, and through which the nature is corrupt, can be easily discerned.
III. Vicissim autem credimus, docemus atque confitemur, peccatum originis non esse levem, sed tam profundam humanæ naturæ corruptionem, quæ nihil sanum, nihil incorruptum, in corpore et anima hominis, atque adeo in interioribus et exterioribus viribus ejus reliquit. Sicut Ecclesia canit: 'Lapsus Adæ vi pessima humana tota massa, natura et ipsa essentia corrupta, luce cassa,' [47] etc. Hoc quantum sit malum, verbis revera est inexplicabile, neque humanæ rationis acumine indagari, sed duntaxat per verbum Dei revelatum agnosci potest. Et sane affirmamus, quod hanc naturæ corruptionem ab ipsa natura nemo, nisi solus Deus, separare queat; id quod per mortem in beata illa resurrectione
III. But, on the other hand, we believe, teach, and confess that Original Sin is no trivial corruption, but is so profound a corruption of human nature as to leave nothing sound, nothing uncorrupt in the body or soul of man, or in his mental or bodily powers. As reads the hymn of the Church:
'Through Adam's fall is all corrupt,
Nature and essence human.' [48]
How great this evil is, is in truth not to be set forth in words, nor can it be explored by the subtlety of human reason, but can only be discerned by means of the revealed word of God. And we indeed affirm that no one is able to dissever this corruption of the nature from the nature itself, except God alone, which will fully come to pass by means of death in the resurrection
plene fiet. Ibi enim ea ipsa natura nostra, quam nunc circumferimus, absque peccato originis, et ab eodem omnino separata et remota resurget, et æterna felicitate fruetur. Sic enim scriptum est (Job xix. 26): 'Pelle mea circumdabor, et in carne mea videbo Deum, quem ego visurus sum mihi, et oculi mei eum conspecturi sunt.' unto blessedness. For then that very same nature of ours, which we now bear about, will rise again free from Original Sin, and wholly severed and disjoined from the same, and will enjoy eternal felicity. For thus it is written (Job xix. 26): 'I shall be compassed again with my skin, and in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.' Negativa. Negative.
Rejectio falsorum dogmatum, quæ commemoratæ sanæ doctrinæ repugnant.
Rejection of false dogmas, which are opposite to the sound doctrine as set forth above. I. Rejicimus ergo et damnamus dogma illud, quo asseritur, peccatum originale tantummodo reatum et debitum esse, ex alieno delicto, absque ulla naturæ nostræ corruptione, in nos derivatum. I. We therefore reject and condemn that dogma by which it is asserted that Original Sin is merely the liability and debt of another's transgression, transmitted to us apart from any corruption of our nature. II. Item, concupiscentias pravas non esse peccatum, sed concreatas naturæ conditiones, et proprietates quasdam essentiales: aut defectus illos, et malum ingens a nobis paulo ante commemoratum, non esse peccatum, propter quod homo, Christo non insertus, sit filius iræ. II. Also, that depraved concupiscences are not sin, but certain concreate conditions and essential properties of the nature, or that those defects and that huge evil just set forth by us is not sin on whose account man, if not grafted into Christ, is a child of wrath. III. Rejicimus etiam Pelagianam hæresin, qua asseritur, hominis naturam post lapsum incorruptam esse, et quidem in spiritualibus III. We also reject the Pelagian heresy, in which it is asserted that the nature of man after the fall is incorrupt, and that, moreover, in
rebus totam bonam et puram in viribus suis naturalibus mansisse. spiritual things it has remained wholly good and pure in its natural powers. IV. Item, peccatum, originis externum, levem, et nullius prope momenti esse nævum, aut aspersam quandam maculam, sub qua nihilominus natura bonas suas vires etiam in rebus spiritualibus retinuerit. IV. Also, that Original Sin is an external, trivial, and almost insignificant birth-mark, or a certain stain dashed upon the man, under the which, nevertheless, nature hath retained her powers unimpaired even in spiritual things. V. Item, peccatum originale tantum esse externum impedimentum bonarum spiritualium virium, et non esse despoliationem et defectum earundem, sicuti cum magnes allii succo illinitur, vis ejus naturalis attrahendi ferrum non tollitur, sed tantum impeditur, aut sicut macula de facie, aut color de pariete abstergi facile potest. V. Also, that Original Sin is only an external impediment of sound spiritual powers, and is not a despoliation and defect thereof, even as, when a magnet is smeared with garlic-juice, its natural power of drawing iron is nor taken away, but is only impeded; or as a stain can be easily wiped off from the face, or paint from a wall. VI. Item, hominis naturam et essentiam non prorsus esse corruptam: sed aliquid boni adhuc in homine reliquum, etiam in rebus spiritualibus, videlicet, bonitatem, capacitatem, aptitudinem, facultatem, industriam, aut vires, quibus in rebus spiritualibus inchoare aliquid boni, operari, aut cooperari valeat. VI. Also, that man's nature and essence are not utterly corrupt, but that there is something of good still remaining in man, even in spiritual things, to wit, goodness, capacity, aptitude, ability, industry, or the powers by which in spiritual things he has strength to undertake, effect, or co-effect somewhat of good. VII. Contra autem rejicimus etiam, falsum dogma Manichæorum, cum docetur, peccatum originis tanquam quiddam essentiale atque substantiale a Satana in naturam esse infusum, et cum eadem VII. But, on the other hand, we reject also the false dogma of the Manichæans, where it is taught that Original Sin is, as it were, something essential and substantial, infused by Satan into the nature, and mingled
permixtum, quemadmodum venenum et vinum miscentur. with the same, as wine and poison are mixed. VIII. Item, non ipsum animalem hominem, sed aliquid aliud, et peregrinum quiddam, quod sit in homine, peccare, ideoque non ipsam naturam, sed tantummodo peccatum originale, in natura existens, accusari. VIII. Also, that it is not the natural man himself, but something alien and strange, which is in man, that sins, and that therefore not his nature itself, but only Original Sin existing in his nature is liable to arraignment. IX. Rejicimus etiam atque damnamus, ut Manichæum errorem, quando docetur, originale peccatum proprie, et quidem nullo posito discrimine, esse ipsam hominis corrupti substantiam, naturam et essentiam, ita ut inter naturam corruptam post lapsum, per se ipsam consideratam, et inter peccatum originis nulla prorsus sit differentia, neque ulla distinctio cogitari, aut saltem peccatum illud a natura cogitatione discerni possit. IX. We reject also and condemn, as a Manichæan error, the teaching that Original Sin is properly, and without any distinction, the very substance, nature, and essence of fallen man, so that between his corrupt nature after the fall, considered in itself, and Original Sin there is no difference at all, and that no distinction can be conceived by which Original Sin can be distinguished from man's nature even in thought. X. D. Lutherus quidem, originis illud malum, peccatum naturæ, personale, essentiale vocat: sed non eam ob causam, quasi natura, persona, aut essentia hominis, absque omni discrimine, sit ipsum peccatum originis: sed ideo ad hunc modum loquitur, ut hujusmodi phrasibus discrimen inter peccatum originale, quod humanæ naturæ infixum est, et inter alia peccata, quæ actualia vocantur, melius intelligi possit. X. Dr. Luther, it is true, calls this original evil a sin of nature, personal, essential; but not for the reason that the nature, person, or essence of man, without any distinction, is itself Original Sin, but he speaks after this manner in order that by phrases of this sort the distinction between Original Sin, which is infixed in human nature, and other sins, which are called actual, may be better understood.