The Apology of the Augsburg ConfessionMelanchthon, Philipp
Religion
The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
Melanchthon, Philipp
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms
Lastly, when will conscience be pacified if we receive remission of
sins on the ground that we love, or that we do the works of the Law?
For the Law will always accuse us, because we never satisfy God's Law.
Just as Paul says, Rom. 4, 15: The Law worketh wrath. Chrysostom
asks concerning repentance, Whence are we made sure that our sins are
remitted us? The adversaries also, in their "Sentences," ask
concerning the same subject. [The question, verily, is worth asking
blessed the man that returns the right answer.] This cannot be
explained, consciences cannot be made tranquil, unless they know that
it is God's command and the very Gospel that they should be firmly
confident that for Christ's sake sins are remitted freely, and that
they should not doubt that these are remitted to them. If any one
doubts, he charges, as John says, 1 Ep. 5, 10, the divine promise
with falsehood. We teach that this certainty of faith is required in
the Gospel. The adversaries leave consciences uncertain and wavering.
Consciences, however do nothing from faith when they perpetually
doubt whether they have remission. [For it is not possible that
there should be rest, or a quiet and peaceful conscience, if they
doubt whether God be gracious. For if they doubt whether they have a
gracious God, whether they are doing right, whether they have
forgiveness of sins, how can, etc.] How can they in this doubt call
upon God, how can they be confident that they are heard? Thus the
entire life is without God [faith] and without the true worship of
God. This is what Paul says, Rom. 14, 23: Whatsoever is not of faith
is sin. And because they are constantly occupied with this doubt,
they never experience what faith [God or Christ] is. Thus it comes
to pass that they rush at last into despair [die in doubt, without
God, without all knowledge of God]. Such is the doctrine of the
adversaries, the doctrine of the Law, the annulling of the Gospel,
the doctrine of despair. [Whereby Christ is suppressed, men are led
into overwhelming sorrow and torture of conscience, and finally, when
temptation comes, into despair. Let His Imperial Majesty graciously
consider and well examine this matter, it does not concern gold or
silver but souls and consciences.] Now we are glad to refer to all
good men the judgment concerning this topic of repentance (for it has
no obscurity), in order that they may decide whether we or the
adversaries have taught those things which are more godly and
healthful to consciences. Indeed, these dissensions in the Church do
not delight us; wherefore, if we did not have great and necessary
reasons for dissenting from the adversaries, we would with the
greatest pleasure be silent. But now, since they condemn the
manifest truth, it is not right for us to desert a cause which is not
our own, but is that of Christ and the Church. [We cannot with
fidelity to God and conscience deny this blessed doctrine and divine
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