The Apology of the Augsburg ConfessionMelanchthon, Philipp
Religion
The Apology of the Augsburg Confession
Melanchthon, Philipp
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms
Therefore the ancient definition, when it says that sin is the lack
of righteousness, not only denies obedience with respect to man's
lower powers [that man is not only corrupt in his body and its
meanest and lowest faculties], but also denies the knowledge of God,
confidence in God, the fear and love of God, or certainly the power
to produce these affections [the light in the heart which creates a
love and desire for these matters]. For even the theologians
themselves teach in their schools that these are not produced without
certain gifts and the aid of grace. In order that the matter may be
understood, we term these very gifts the knowledge of God, and fear
and confidence in God. From these facts it appears that the ancient
definition says precisely the same thing that we say, denying fear
and confidence toward God, to wit, not only the acts, but also the
gifts and power to produce these acts [that we have no good heart
toward God, which truly loves God, not only that we are unable to do
or achieve any perfectly good work].
Of the same import is the definition which occurs in the writings of
Augustine, who is accustomed to define original sin as concupiscence
[wicked desire]. For he means that when righteousness had been lost,
concupiscence came in its place. For inasmuch as diseased nature
cannot fear and love God and believe God, it seeks and loves carnal
things. God's judgment it either contemns when at ease, or hates,
when thoroughly terrified. Thus Augustine includes both the defect
and the vicious habit which has come in its place. Nor indeed is
concupiscence only a corruption of the qualities of the body, but
also, in the higher powers, a vicious turning to carnal things. Nor
do those persons see what they say who ascribe to man at the same
time concupiscence that is not entirely destroyed by the Holy Ghost,
and love to God above all things.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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