justitiam sine operibus. Beati, quorum remissæ sunt iniquitates, et quorum tecta sunt peccata. Beatus vir, cui non imputavit Dominus peccatum, etc. Et alibi (Eph. ii. 8 sq.): 'Gratia.' inquit, 'estis salvati, per fidem, et hoc non ex vobis, Dei enim donum est, non ex operibus, ne quis glorietur.' righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.' And elsewhere (Eph. ii. 8 sq.): 'By grace,' saith he, 'are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God--not of works, lest any man should boast.' III. Credimus, docemus et confitemur, omnes quidem homines, præcipue vero eos, qui per Spiritum Sanctum regenerati sunt et renovati, ad bona opera facienda debitores esse. III. We believe, teach, and confess that all men, indeed, but chiefly those who through the Holy Spirit are regenerated and renewed, are debtors to do good works. IV. Et in hoc sententia vocabula illa 'necessarium,' 'debere,' 'oportere' ['nöthig,' 'sollen,' und 'müssen,'] recte usurpantur, etiam de renatis hominibus, et cum formæ sanorum verborum non pugnant. IV. And in this decision those words--'necessary,' 'ought,' 'it behooves'--are rightly used even of regenerate men, and are not inconsistent with the form of sound words. V. Sed tamen per vocabula 'necessitas,' 'necessarium,' quando videlicet de renatis est sermo, non intelligenda est coactio, sed tantum debita illa obedientia, quam vere credentes, quatenus renati sunt, non ex coactione, aut compulsu legis, sed libero et spontaneo spiritu præstant, quandoquidem non amplius sub lege sunt, sed sub gratia (Rom. vi. 14; vii. 6; viii. 14). V. But, nevertheless, by the terms necessity, necessary, when we speak of the regenerate, we are not to understand constraint, but only that bounden obedience which true believers, so far as they are regenerate, render, not of constraint or compulsion of the law, but of a free and spontaneous spirit: inasmuch as they are no longer under the law, but under grace (Rom. vi. 14; vii. 6; viii. 14). VI. Credimus igitur, docemus et confitemur, cum dicitur, renatos VI. We believe, therefore, teach, and confess that when it is said
bene operari libero et spontaneo spiritu, id non ita accipiendum esse, quod in hominis renati arbitrio relictum sit, bene aut male agere, quando ipsi visum fuerit, ut nihilominus tamen fidem retineat, etiamsi in peccatis ex proposito perseveret. that the regenerate do good works of a free and spontaneous spirit, this is not to be so understood as that it is left to the regenerate man's option to do well or ill whenever it may seem good to him, so that he retains faith, even though of set purpose he persevere in sins. VII. Hoc tamen non aliter, quam de spiritu hominis jam liberato intelligendum est, sicut hanc rem ipse Christus, ejusque Apostoli declarant (Rom. viii. 15): quod videlicet spiritus hominis liberatus bene operetur, non formidine poenæ, ut servus, sed justitiæ, amore, qualem obedientiam filii præstare solent. VII. That this, nevertheless, is not to be understood except of the spirit of man when set free, even as Christ himself and his apostles set forth this matter, to wit: that the liberated spirit of man does good works, not, as a slave, from fear of punishment, but from love of righteousness, such as is the obedience which children are wont to render (Rom. viii. 15). VIII. Hanc vero libertatem spiritus in electis Dei filiis non perfectam, sed multiplici infirmitate adhuc gravatam agnoscimus, quemadmodum D. Paulus super ea re de sua ipsius persona conqueritur (Rom. vii. 14 sqq.; Gal. v. 17). VIII. But we acknowledge that this liberty of spirit in the elect children of God is not perfect, but is as yet weighed down with manifold infirmity, as St. Paul laments concerning himself about this matter (Rom. vii. 14-25; Gal. v. 17). IX. Illam tamen infirmitatem Dominus electis suis non imputat, idque propter Mediatorem Christum. Sic enim scriptum est (Rom. viii. 1): 'Nihil jam damnationis est his, qui in Christo Jesu sunt.' IX. This infirmity, nevertheless, the Lord, for the sake of Christ the Mediator, does not impute to his elect. For so it is written (Rom. viii. 1): 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.' X. Credimus præterea, docemus et confitemur, fidem et salutem X. We believe, moreover, teach, and confess that faith and salvation
in nobis conservari, aut retineri, non per opera, sed tantum per Spiritum Dei, et per fidem (qua scilicet salus custoditur), bona autem opera testimonia esse, quod Spiritus Sanctus præsens sit, atque in nobis habitet. are preserved or retained in us not by works, but only by the spirit of God and by faith (by which, namely, salvation is guarded), and that good works are a testimony that the Holy Spirit is present and dwells in us. Negativa. Negative. Falsa doctrina, superiori repugnans. False doctrine opposed to that above stated. I. Rejicimus igitur et damnamus subsequentes phrases, cum docetur: bona opera necessaria esse ad salutem; neminem unquam sine bonis operibus salvatum; impossibile esse sine bonis operibus salvari. [59] I. We reject, therefore, and condemn the following phrases, when it is taught: That good works are necessary to salvation; that no one has ever been saved without good works; that it is impossible to be saved without good works. II. Repudiamus et damnamus nudam hanc, offendiculi plenam, et Christianæ disciplinæ perniciosam phrasin: bona opera noxia esse ad salutem. [60] II. We repudiate and condemn this bald phrase, full of offense and pernicious to Christian discipline: That good works are detrimental to salvation. His enim postremis temporibus non minus necessarium est, ut homines ad recte et pie vivendi rationem bonaque opera invitentur atque moneantur, quam necessarium sit, ut ad declarandam fidem atque gratitudinem suam erga Deum in bonis operibus sese exerceant: quam, necessarium est, cavere, ne bona opera negotio justificationis admisceantur. Non minus enim homines Epicurea persuasione de fide, For in these last times it is not less necessary that men should be admonished to a right and pious manner of living and to good works, and reminded how necessary it is that they should exercise themselves to declare and set forth their faith and gratitude towards God by good works, than it is necessary to beware lest good works be mingled in the matter of justification. For men may incur damnation no less by an Epicurean persuasion concerning
quam Pharisaica et Papistica fiducia in propria opera et merita damnationem incurrere possunt. faith than by a Pharisaic and Papistic confidence in their own works and merits. III. Præterea reprobamus atque damnamus dogma illud, quod fides in Christum, non amittatur, et Spiritus Sanctus nihilominus in homine habitet, etiamsi sciens volensque peccet; et quod sancti atque electi [die Heiligen und Auserwählten] Spiritum Sanctum, retineant, tametsi in adulterium, aut in alia scelera prolabantur, et in iis perseverent. III. Moreover, we repudiate and condemn that dogma that faith in Christ is not lost, and that the Holy Spirit, even though a man sin wittingly and willingly, nevertheless dwells in him; and that the holy and elect retain the Holy Spirit, even though they fall into adultery or other crimes, and persevere in the same. Art. V. Art. V. DE LEGE ET EVANGELIO. OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL. Status Controversiæ. Statement of the Controversy. Quæsitum fuit: an Evangelism proprie sit tantummodo concio de gratia Dei, quæ remissionem peccatorum nobis annunciet: an vero etiam sit concio poenitentiæ, arguens peccatum incredulitatis, quippe quæ non per Legem, sed per Evangelion duntaxat arguatur. It has been inquired: Whether the gospel is properly only a preaching of the grace of God, which announces to us the remission of sins, or whether it is also a preaching of repentance, rebuking the sin of unbelief, as one which is not rebuked by the Law, but only by the Gospel. Affirmativa. Affirmative. Sincera doctrina, cum norma verbi Dei congruens. Sound doctrine agreeing with the rule of the Word of God. I. Credimus, docemus et confitemur, discrimen Legis et Evangelii, ut clarissimum quoddam lumen [ein besonder herrlich Licht], I. We believe, teach, and confess that the distinction of the Law and of the Gospel, as a most excellently clear light, is to be retained with
singulari diligentia in Ecclesia Dei retinendum esse, ut verbum Dei, juxta admonitionem D. Pauli, recte secari queat. special diligence in the Church of God, in order that the Word of God, agreeably to the admonition of St. Paul, may be rightly divided. II. Credimus, docemus et confitemur, Legem esse proprie doctrinam divinitus revelatam, quæ doceat, quid justum Deoque gratum sit; quæ etiam, quicquid peccatum est, et voluntati divinæ adversatur, redarguat. II. We believe, teach, and confess that the Law is properly a doctrine divinely revealed, which teaches what is just and acceptable to God, and which also denounces whatever is sinful and opposite to the divine will. III. Quare, quicquid extat in sacris literis, quod peccata arguit, id revera ad Legis concionem pertinet. III. Wherefore, whatever is found in the Holy Scriptures which convicts of sins, that properly belongs to the preaching of the Law. IV. Evangelion vero proprie doctrinam esse censemus, quæ doceat, quid homo credere debeat, qui Legi Dei non satisfecit, et idcirco per eandem damnatur: videlicet, quod illum credere oporteat, Jesum Christum omnia peccata expiasse, atque pro iis satisfecisse, et remissionem peccatorum, justitiam coram Deo consistentem et vitam æternam, nullo interveniente peccatoris illius merito, impetrasse. IV. The Gospel, on the other hand, we judge to be properly the doctrine which teaches what a man ought to believe who has not satisfied the law of God, and therefore is condemned by the same, to wit: that it behooves him to believe that Jesus Christ has expiated all his sins, and made satisfaction for them, and has obtained remission of sins, righteousness which avails before God, and eternal life without the intervention of any merit of the sinner. V. Cum autem vocabulum 'Evangelii' non semper in una eademque significatione in Sacra Scriptura usurpetur, unde et dissensio illa primum orta est: credimus, docemus et confitemur, si vocabulum 'Evangelii' de tota Christi doctrina accipiatur, quam V. But inasmuch as the word Gospel is not always used in Holy Scripture in one and the same signification, whence also that dissension first arose, we believe, teach, and confess that if the term Gospel is understood of the whole doctrine of Christ, which he set forth in his
ipse in Ministerio suo (quemadmodum et ejus Apostoli) professus est {in qua significatione Mark i. 15 et Acts xx. 21 vox illa usurpatur), recte dici et doceri, Evangelium esse concionem de poenitentia et remissione peccatorum. ministry, as did also his apostles after him (in which signification the word is used in Mark i. 15 and Acts xx. 21), it is rightly said and taught that the Gospel is a preaching of repentance and remission of sins. VI. Quando vero Lex et Evangelion, sicut et ipse Moises, ut Doctor Legis, et Christus, ut Doctor Evangelii, inter se conferuntur: credimus, docemus et confitemur, quod Evangelion non sit concio poenitentiæ, arguens peccata: sed quod proprie nihil aliud sit, quam laetissimum quoddam nuncium, et concio plena consolationis, non arguens aut terrens, quandoquidem conscientias contra terrores Legis solatur, easque in meritum solius Christi respicere jubet, et dulcissima prædicatione, de gratia et favore Dei, per meritum Christi impetrato, rursus erigit. VI. But when the Law and the Gospel are compared together, as well as Moses himself, the teacher of the Law, and Christ the teacher of the Gospel, we believe, teach, and confess that the Gospel is not a preaching of repentance, convicting of sins, but that it is properly nothing else than a certain most joyful message and preaching full of consolation, not convicting or terrifying, inasmuch as it comforts the conscience against the terrors of the Law, and bids it look at the merit of Christ alone, and by a most sweet preaching of the grace and favor of God, obtained through Christ, lifts it up again. VII. Quod vero ad revelationem peccati attinet, sic sese res habent. Velum illud Moisis omnium hominum oculis est obductum, quam diu solam Legis concionem, nihil autem de Christo audiunt. Itaque peccata sua ex Lege non vere agnoscunt: sed aut hypocritæ fiunt, qui justitiæ propriæ opinione turgent, quales VII. But as respects the revelation of sin, the matter stands thus: That veil of Moses is drawn over all men's eyes, so long as they hear only the preaching of the Law, and hear nothing of Christ. Therefore they do not, by the Law, truly come to know their sins, but either become hypocrites, swelling with an opinion of their own righteousness, as were