,,the ,,smalcald ,,articles ,by ,martin ,luther ,the ,smalcald ,articles4 ,articles of ,christian ,doctrine which were to have been presented on our part to the ,council1 if any had been assembled at ,mantua or elsewhere1 indicating what we could accept or yield1 and what we could not4 by ,dr4 ,martin ,luther1 #aecg ,translated by ,f4 ,bente and ,w4 ,h4 ,t4 ,dau ,published in3 ,triglot ,concordia3 ,the ,symbolical ,books of the ,ev4 ,lutheran ,church4 7,st4 ,louis3 ,concordia ,publishing ,house1 #aiba71 pp4 #dec-ebi4 ,preface of ,dr4 ,martin ,luther4 ,since ,pope ,paul ,,iii convoked a ,council last year1 to assemble at ,mantua about ,whitsuntide1 and afterwards transferred it from ,mantua1 so that it is not yet known where he will or can fix it1 and we on our part either had to expect that we would be summoned also to the ,council or to fear that we would be condemned unsummoned1 ,i was directed to compile and collect the articles of our doctrine in order that it might be plain in case of deliberation as to what and how far we would be both willing and able to yield to the ,papists1 and in what points we intended to persevere and abide to the end4 ,i have accordingly compiled these articles and presented them to our side4 ,they have also been accepted and unanimously confessed by our side1 and it has been resolved that1 in case the ,pope with his adherents should ever be so bold as seriously and in good faith1 without lying and cheating1 to hold a truly free legitimate ,christian ,council 7as1 indeed1 he would be in duty bound to do71 they be publicly delivered in order to set forth the ,confession of our ,faith4 ,but though the ,romish court is so dreadfully afraid of a free ,christian ,council1 and shuns the light so shamefully1 that it has entirely removed1 even from those who are on its side1 the hope that it will ever permit a free ,council1 much less that it will itself hold one1 whereat1 as is just1 they many ,papists are greatly offended and have no little trouble on that account are disgusted with this negligence of the ,pope1 since they notice thereby that the ,pope would rather see all ,christendom perish and all souls damned than suffer either himself or his adherents to be reformed even a little1 and his their tyranny to be limited1 nevertheless ,i have determined meanwhile to publish these articles in plain print1 so that1 should ,i die before there would be a ,council 7as ,i fully expect and hope1 because the knaves who flee the light and shun the day take such wretched pains to delay and hinder the ,council71 those who live and remain after me may have my testimony and confession to produce1 in addition to the ,confession which ,i have issued previously1 whereby up to this time ,i have abided1 and1 by ,god's grace1 will abide4 ,for what shall ,i say8 ,how shall ,i complain8 ,i am still living1 writing1 preaching1 and lecturing daily2 and yet there are found such spiteful men1 not only among the adversaries1 but also false brethren that profess to be on our side1 as dare to cite my writings and doctrine directly against myself1 and let me look on and listen1 although they know well that ,i teach otherwise1 and as wish to adorn their venom with my labor1 and under my name to deceive and mislead the poor people4 ,good ,god6 ,alas6 what first will happen when ,i am dead8 ,indeed1 ,i ought to reply to everything while ,i am still living4 ,but1 again1 how can ,i alone stop all the mouths of the devil8 especially of those 7as they all are poisoned7 who will not hear or notice what we write1 but solely exercise themselves with all diligence how they may most shamefully pervert and corrupt our word in every letter4 ,these ,i let the devil answer1 or at last ,gods wrath1 as they deserve4 ,i often think of the good ,gerson who doubts whether anything good should be written and published4 ,if it is not done1 many souls are neglected who could be delivered3 but if it is done1 the devil is there with malignant1 villainous tongues without number which envenom and pervert everything1 so that nevertheless the fruit the usefulness of the writings is prevented4 ,yet what they gain thereby is manifest4 ,for while they have lied so shamefully against us and by means of lies wished to retain the people1 ,god has constantly advanced ,his work1 and been making their following ever smaller and ours greater1 and by their lies has caused and still causes them to be brought to shame4 ,i must tell a story4 ,there was a doctor sent here to ,wittenberg from ,france1 who said publicly before us that his king was sure and more than sure1 that among us there is no church1 no magistrate1 no married life1 but all live promiscuously as cattle1 and each one does as he pleases4 ,imagine now1 how will those who by their writings have instilled such gross lies into the king and other countries as the pure truth1 look at us on that day before the judgment-seat of ,christ8 ,christ1 the ,lord and ,judge of us all1 knows well that they lie and have always lied1 ,his sentence they in turn1 must hear2 that ,i know certainly4 ,god convert to repentance those who can be converted6 ,regarding the rest it will be said1 ,woe1 and1 alas6 eternally4 ,but to return to the subject4 ,i verily desire to see a truly ,christian ,council assembled some time1 in order that many matters and persons might be helped4 ,not that we need ,it1 for our churches are now1 through ,god's grace1 so enlightened and equipped with the pure ,word and right use of the ,sacraments1 with knowledge of the various callings and of right works1 that we on our part ask for no ,council1 and on such points have nothing better to hope or expect from a ,council4 ,but we see in the bishoprics everywhere so many parishes vacant and desolate that one's heart would break1 and yet neither the bishops nor canons care how the poor people live or die1 for whom nevertheless ,christ has died1 and who are not permitted to hear ,him speak with them as the true ,shepherd with ,his sheep4 ,this causes me to shudder and fear that at some time ,he may send a council of angels upon ,germany utterly destroying us1 like ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 because we so wantonly mock ,him with the ,council4 ,besides such necessary ecclesiastical affairs1 there would be also in the political estate innumerable matters of great importance to improve4 ,there is the disagreement between the princes and the states2 usury and avarice have burst in like a flood1 and have become lawful are defended with a show of right2 wantonness1 lewdness1 extravagance in dress1 gluttony1 gambling1 idle display1 with all kinds of bad habits and wickedness1 insubordination of subjects1 of domestics and laborers of every trade1 also the exactions and most exorbitant selling prices of the peasants 7and who can enumerate all87 have so increased that they cannot be rectified by ten ,councils and twenty ,diets4 ,if such chief matters of the spiritual and worldly estates as are contrary to ,god would be considered in the ,council1 they would have all hands so full that the child's play and absurdity of long gowns official insignia1 large tonsures1 broad cinctures or sashes1 bishops' or cardinals' hats or maces1 and like jugglery would in the mean time be forgotten4 ,if we first had performed ,god's command and order in the spiritual and secular estate we would find time enough to reform food1 clothing1 tonsures1 and surplices4 ,but if we want to swallow such camels1 and1 instead1 strain at gnats1 let the beams stand and judge the motes1 we also might indeed be satisfied with the ,council4 ,therefore ,i have presented few articles2 for we have without this so many commands of ,god to observe in the ,church1 the state and the family that we can never fulfil them4 ,what1 then1 is the use1 or what does it profit that many decrees and statutes thereon are made in the ,council1 especially when these chief matters commanded of ,god are neither regarded nor observed8 ,just as though ,he were bound to honor our jugglery as a reward of our treading ,his solemn commandments under foot4 ,but our sins weigh upon us and cause ,god not to be gracious to us2 for we do not repent1 and1 besides1 wish to defend every abomination4 ,o ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 do ,thou ,thyself convoke a ,council1 and deliver ,thy servants by ,thy glorious advent6 ,the ,pope and his adherents are done for2 they will have none of ,thee4 ,do ,thou1 then1 help us1 who are poor and needy1 who sigh to ,thee1 and beseech ,thee earnestly1 according to the grace which ,thou hast given us1 through ,thy ,holy ,ghost who liveth and reigneth with ,thee and the ,father1 blessed forever4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,first ,,part ,treats of the ,sublime ,articles ,concerning the ,divine ,majesty1 as3 ,i4 ,that ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 three distinct persons in one divine essence and nature1 are one ,god1 who has created heaven and earth4 ,,ii4 ,that the ,father is begotten of no one2 the ,son of the ,father2 the ,holy ,ghost proceeds from ,father and ,son4 ,,iii4 ,that not the ,father nor the ,holy ,ghost but the ,son became man4 ,,iv4 ,that the ,son became man in this manner1 that ,he was conceived1 without the cooperation of man1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 and was born of the pure1 holy and always ,virgin ,mary4 ,afterwards ,he suffered1 died1 was buried1 descended to hell1 rose from the dead1 ascended to heaven1 sits at the right hand of ,god1 will come to judge the quick and the dead1 etc4 as the ,creed of the ,apostles1 as well as that of ,st4 ,athanasius1 and the ,catechism in common use for children1 teach4 ,concerning these articles there is no contention or dispute1 since we on both sides confess them4 ,therefore it is not necessary now to treat further of them4 ,,the ,,second ,,part ,treats of the ,articles which ,refer to the ,office and ,work of ,jesus ,christ1 or ,our ,redemption4 ,the first and chief article is this1 ,that ,jesus ,christ1 our ,god and ,lord1 died for our sins1 and was raised again for our justification1 ,rom4 #d1 #be4 ,and ,he alone is the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sins of the world1 ,john #a1 #bi2 and ,god has laid upon ,him the iniquities of us all1 ,is4 #ec1 #f4 ,likewise3 ,all have sinned and are justified without merit freely1 and without their own works or merits by ,his grace1 through the redemption that is in ,christ ,jesus1 in ,his blood1 ,rom4 #c1 #bc f4 ,now1 since it is necessary to believe this1 and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work1 law1 or merit1 it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as ,st4 ,paul says1 ,rom4 #c1 #bh3 ,for we conclude that a man is justified by faith1 without the deeds of the ,law4 ,likewise v4 #bf3 ,that ,he might be just1 and the ,justifier of him which believeth in ,christ4 ,of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered nor can anything be granted or permitted contrary to the same1 even though heaven and earth1 and whatever will not abide1 should sink to ruin4 ,for there is none other name under heaven1 given among men whereby we must be saved1 says ,peter1 ,acts #d1 #ab4 ,and with ,his stripes we are healed1 ,is4 #ec1 #e4 ,and upon this article all things depend which we teach and practice in opposition to the ,pope1 the devil1 and the whole world4 ,therefore1 we must be sure concerning this doctrine1 and not doubt2 for otherwise all is lost1 and the ,pope and devil and all things gain the victory and suit over us4 ,article ,,ii3 ,of the ,mass4 ,that the ,mass in the ,papacy must be the greatest and most horrible abomination1 as it directly and powerfully conflicts with this chief article1 and yet above and before all other popish idolatries it has been the chief and most specious4 ,for it has been held that this sacrifice or work of the ,mass1 even though it be rendered by a wicked and abandoned scoundrel1 frees men from sins1 both in this life and also in purgatory1 while only the ,lamb of ,god shall and must do this1 as has been said above4 ,of this article nothing is to be surrendered or conceded1 because the first article does not allow it4 ,if1 perchance1 there were reasonable ,papists we might speak moderately and in a friendly way1 thus3 first1 why they so rigidly uphold the ,mass4 ,for it is but a pure invention of men1 and has not been commanded by ,god2 and every invention of man we may safely discard1 as ,christ declares1 ,matt4 #ae1 #i3 ,in vain do they worship ,me1 teaching for doctrines the commandments of men4 ,secondly4 ,it is an unnecessary thing1 which can be omitted without sin and danger4 ,thirdly4 ,the ,sacrament can be received in a better and more blessed way more acceptable to ,god1 7yea1 the only blessed way71 according to the institution of ,christ4 ,why1 then1 do they drive the world to woe and extreme misery on account of a fictitious1 unnecessary matter1 which can be well obtained in another and more blessed way8 ,let care be taken that it be publicly preached to the people that the ,mass as men's twaddle commentitious affair or human figment can be omitted without sin1 and that no one will be condemned who does not observe it1 but that he can be saved in a better way without the ,mass4 ,i wager ,thus it will come to pass that the ,mass will then collapse of itself1 not only among the insane rude common people1 but also among all pious1 ,christian1 reasonable1 ,god-fearing hearts2 and that the more1 when they would hear that the ,mass is a very dangerous thing1 fabricated and invented without the will and ,word of ,god4 ,fourthly4 ,since such innumerable and unspeakable abuses have arisen in the whole world from the buying and selling of masses1 the ,mass should by right be relinquished1 if for no other purpose than to prevent abuses1 even though in itself it had something advantageous and good4 ,how much more ought we to relinquish it1 so as to prevent escape forever these horrible abuses1 since it is altogether unnecessary1 useless1 and dangerous1 and we can obtain everything by a more necessary1 profitable1 and certain way without the ,mass4 ,fifthly4 ,but since the ,mass is nothing else and can be nothing else 7as the ,canon and all books declare71 than a work of men 7even of wicked scoundrels71 by which one attempts to reconcile himself and others to ,god1 and to obtain and merit the remission of sins and grace 7for thus the ,mass is observed when it is observed at the very best2 otherwise what purpose would it serve871 for this very reason it must and should certainly be condemned and rejected4 ,for this directly conflicts with the chief article1 which says that it is not a wicked or a godly hireling of the ,mass with his own work1 but the ,lamb of ,god and the ,son of ,god1 that taketh away our sins4 ,but if any one should advance the pretext that as an act of devotion he wishes to administer the ,sacrament1 or ,communion1 to himself1 he is not in earnest he would commit a great mistake1 and would not be speaking seriously and sincerely4 ,for if he wishes to commune in sincerity1 the surest and best way for him is in the ,sacrament administered according to ,christ's institution4 ,but that one administer communion to himself is a human notion1 uncertain1 unnecessary1 yea1 even prohibited4 ,and he does not know what he is doing1 because without the ,word of ,god he obeys a false human opinion and invention4 ,so1 too1 it is not right 7even though the matter were otherwise correct7 for one to use the common ,sacrament of belonging to the ,church according to his own private devotion1 and without ,god's ,word and apart from the communion of the ,church to trifle therewith4 ,this article concerning the ,mass will be the whole business of the ,council4 ,the ,council will perspire most over1 and be occupied with this article concerning the ,mass4 ,for if it were although it would be possible for them to concede to us all the other articles1 yet they could not concede this4 ,as ,campegius said at ,augsburg that he would be torn to pieces before he would relinquish the ,mass1 so1 by the help of ,god1 ,i1 too1 would suffer myself to be reduced to ashes before ,i would allow a hireling of the ,mass1 be he good or bad1 to be made equal to ,christ ,jesus1 my ,lord and ,savior1 or to be exalted above ,him4 ,thus we are and remain eternally separated and opposed to one another4 ,they feel well enough that when the ,mass falls1 the ,papacy lies in ruins4 ,before they will permit this to occur1 they will put us all to death if they can4 ,in addition to all this1 this dragon's tail1 ,i mean the ,mass1 has begotten a numerous vermin-brood of manifold idolatries4 ,first1 purgatory4 ,here they carried their trade into purgatory by masses for souls1 and vigils1 and weekly1 monthly1 and yearly celebrations of obsequies1 and finally by the ,common ,week and ,all ,souls ,day1 by soul-baths so that the ,mass is used almost alone for the dead1 although ,christ has instituted the ,sacrament alone for the living4 ,therefore purgatory1 and every solemnity1 rite1 and commerce connected with it1 is to be regarded as nothing but a specter of the devil4 ,for it conflicts with the chief article which teaches that only ,christ1 and not the works of men1 are to help set free souls4 ,not to mention the fact that nothing has been divinely commanded or enjoined upon us concerning the dead4 ,therefore all this may be safely omitted1 even if it were no error and idolatry4 ,the ,papists quote here ,augustine and some of the ,fathers who are said to have written concerning purgatory1 and they think that we do not understand for what purpose and to what end they spoke as they did4 ,st4 ,augustine does not write that there is a purgatory nor has he a testimony of ,scripture to constrain him thereto1 but he leaves it in doubt whether there is one1 and says that his mother asked to be remembered at the altar or ,sacrament4 ,now1 all this is indeed nothing but the devotion of men1 and that1 too1 of individuals1 and does not establish an article of faith1 which is the prerogative of ,god alone4 ,our ,papists1 however1 cite such statements opinions of men in order that men should believe in their horrible1 blasphemous1 and cursed traffic in masses for souls in purgatory or in sacrifices for the dead and oblations1 etc4 ,but they will never prove these things from ,augustine4 ,now1 when they have abolished the traffic in masses for purgatory1 of which ,augustine never dreamt1 we will then discuss with them whether the expressions of ,augustine without ,scripture being without the warrant of the ,word are to be admitted1 and whether the dead should be remembered at the ,eucharist4 ,for it will not do to frame articles of faith from the works or words of the holy ,fathers2 otherwise their kind of fare1 of garments1 of house1 etc41 would have to become an article of faith1 as was done with relies4 ,we have1 however1 another rule1 namely ,the rule is3 ,the ,word of ,god shall establish articles of faith1 and no one else1 not even an angel4 ,secondly4 ,from this it has followed that evil spirits have perpetrated much knavery exercised their malice by appearing as the souls of the departed1 and with unspeakable horrible lies and tricks demanded masses1 vigils1 pilgrimages1 and other alms4 ,all of which we had to receive as articles of faith1 and to live accordingly2 and the ,pope confirmed these things1 as also the ,mass and all other abominations4 ,here1 too1 there is no cannot and must not be any yielding or surrendering4 ,thirdly4 ,hence arose the pilgrimages4 ,here1 too1 masses1 the remission of sins and the grace of ,god were sought1 for the ,mass controlled everything4 ,now it is indeed certain that such pilgrimages1 without the ,word of ,god1 have not been commanded us1 neither are they necessary1 since we can have these things the soul can be cared for in a better way1 and can omit these pilgrimages without any sin and danger4 ,why therefore do they leave at home desert their own parish their called ministers1 their parishes1 the ,word of ,god1 wives1 children1 etc41 who are ordained and attention to whom is necessary and has been commanded1 and run after these unnecessary1 uncertain1 pernicious will-o'-the-wisps of the devil and errors8 ,unless the devil was riding made insane the ,pope1 causing him to praise and establish these practices1 whereby the people again and again revolted from ,christ to their own works1 and became idolaters1 which is worst of all2 moreover1 it is neither necessary nor commanded1 but is senseless and doubtful1 and besides harmful4 ,hence here1 too1 there can be no yielding or surrendering to yield or concede anything here is not lawful1 etc4 ,and let this be preached1 that such pilgrimages are not necessary1 but dangerous2 and then see what will become of them4 ,for thus they will perish of their own accord4 ,fourthly4 ,fraternities or societies1 in which cloisters1 chapters1 vicars have assigned and communicated 7by a legal contract and sale7 all masses and good works1 etc41 both for the living and the dead4 ,this is not only altogether a human bauble1 without the ,word of ,god1 entirely unnecessary and not commanded1 but also contrary to the chief article1 ,of ,redemption4 ,therefore it is in no way to be tolerated4 ,fifthly4 ,the relics1 in which there are found so many falsehoods and tomfooleries concerning the bones of dogs and horses1 that even the devil has laughed at such rascalities1 ought long ago to have been condemned1 even though there were some good in them2 and so much the more because they are without the ,word of ,god2 being neither commanded nor counseled1 they are an entirely unnecessary and useless thing4 ,but the worst is that they have imagined that these relics had to work indulgence and the forgiveness of sins and have revered them as a good work and service of ,god1 like the ,mass1 etc4 ,sixthly4 ,here belong the precious indulgences granted 7but only for money7 both to the living and the dead1 by which the miserable sacrilegious and accursed ,judas1 or ,pope1 has sold the merit of ,christ1 together with the superfluous merits of all saints and of the entire ,church1 etc4 ,all these things and every single one of them are not to be borne1 and are not only without the ,word of ,god1 without necessity1 not commanded1 but are against the chief article4 ,for the merit of ,christ is apprehended and obtained not by our works or pence1 but from grace through faith1 without money and merit2 and is offered and presented not through the power of the ,pope1 but through the preaching of ,god's ,word4 ,of the ,invocation of ,saints4 ,the invocation of saints is also one of the abuses of ,antichrist conflicting with the chief article1 and destroys the knowledge of ,christ4 ,neither is it commanded nor counseled1 nor has it any example or testimony in ,scripture1 and even though it were a precious thing1 as it is not while1 on the contrary1 it is a most harmful thing1 in ,christ we have everything a thousandfold better and surer1 so that we are not in need of calling upon the saints4 ,and although the angels in heaven pray for us 7as ,christ ,himself also does71 as also do the saints on earth1 and perhaps also in heaven1 yet it does not follow thence that we should invoke and adore the angels and saints1 and fast1 hold festivals1 celebrate ,mass in their honor1 make offerings1 and establish churches1 altars1 divine worship1 and in still other ways serve them1 and regard them as helpers in need as patrons and intercessors1 and divide among them all kinds of help1 and ascribe to each one a particular form of assistance1 as the ,papists teach and do4 ,for this is idolatry1 and such honor belongs alone to ,god4 ,for as a ,christian and saint upon earth you can pray for me1 not only in one1 but in many necessities4 ,but for this reason ,i am not obliged to adore and invoke you1 and celebrate festivals1 fast1 make oblations1 hold masses for your honor and worship1 and put my faith in you for my salvation4 ,i can in other ways indeed honor1 love1 and thank you in ,christ4 ,if now such idolatrous honor were withdrawn from angels and departed saints1 the remaining honor would be without harm and would quickly be forgotten4 ,for when advantage and assistance1 both bodily and spiritual1 are no more to be expected1 the saints will not be troubled the worship of the saints will soon vanish1 neither in their graves nor in heaven4 ,for without a reward or out of pure love no one will much remember1 or esteem1 or honor them bestow on them divine honor4 ,in short1 the ,mass itself and anything that proceeds from it1 and anything that is attached to it1 we cannot tolerate1 but must condemn1 in order that we may retain the holy ,sacrament pure and certain1 according to the institution of ,christ1 employed and received through faith4 ,article ,,iii3 ,of ,chapters and ,cloisters4 ,that chapters and cloisters colleges of canons and communistic dwellings1 which were formerly founded with the good intention of our forefathers to educate learned men and chaste and modest women1 ought again to be turned to such use1 in order that pastors1 preachers1 and other ministers of the churches may be had1 and likewise other necessary persons fitted for the political administration of the secular government or for the commonwealth in cities and countries1 and well-educated1 maidens for mothers and housekeepers1 etc4 ,if they will not serve this purpose1 it is better that they be abandoned or razed1 rather than continued and1 with their blasphemous services invented by men1 regarded as something better than the ordinary ,christian life and the offices and callings ordained by ,god4 ,for all this also is contrary to the first chief article concerning the redemption made through ,jesus ,christ4 ,add to this that 7like all other human inventions7 these have neither been commanded2 they are needless and useless1 and1 besides1 afford occasion for dangerous and vain labor dangerous annoyances and fruitless worship1 such services as the prophets call ,aven1 i4e41 pain and labor4 ,article ,,iv3 ,of the ,papacy4 ,that the ,pope is not1 according to divine law or according to the ,word of ,god the head of all ,christendom 7for this name belongs to ,one only1 whose name is ,jesus ,christ71 but is only the bishop and pastor of the ,church at ,rome1 and of those who voluntarily or through a human creature 7that is1 a political magistrate7 have attached themselves to him1 to be ,christians1 not under him as a lord1 but with him as brethren colleagues and comrades1 as the ancient councils and the age of ,st4 ,cyprian show4 ,but to-day none of the bishops dare to address the ,pope as brother as was done at that time in the age of ,cyprian2 but they must call him most gracious lord1 even though they be kings or emperors4 ,this ,such arrogance we will not1 cannot1 must not take upon our conscience with a good conscience approve4 ,let him1 however1 who will do it1 do so without us at his own risk4 ,hence it follows that all things which the ,pope1 from a power so false1 mischievous1 blasphemous1 and arrogant1 has done and undertaken1 have been and still are purely diabolical affairs and transactions 7with the exception of such things as pertain to the secular government1 where ,god often permits much good to be effected for a people1 even through a tyrant and faithless scoundrel7 for the ruin of the entire holy catholic or ,christian ,church 7so far as it is in his power7 and for the destruction of the first and chief article concerning the redemption made through ,jesus ,christ4 ,for all his bulls and books are extant1 in which he roars like a lion 7as the angel in ,rev4 #ab depicts him71 crying out that no ,christian can be saved unless he obeys him and is subject to him in all things that he wishes1 that he says1 and that he does4 ,all of which amounts to nothing less than saying3 ,although you believe in ,christ1 and have in ,him alone everything that is necessary to salvation1 yet it is nothing and all in vain unless you regard have and worship me as your god1 and be subject and obedient to me4 ,and yet it is manifest that the holy ,church has been without the ,pope for at least more than five hundred years1 and that even to the present day the churches of the ,greeks and of many other languages neither have been nor are yet under the ,pope4 ,besides1 as often remarked1 it is a human figment which is not commanded1 and is unnecessary and useless2 for the holy ,christian or catholic ,church can exist very well without such a head1 and it would certainly have remained better purer1 and its career would have been more prosperous if such a head had not been raised up by the devil4 ,and the ,papacy is also of no use in the ,church1 because it exercises no ,christian office2 and therefore it is necessary for the ,church to continue and to exist without the ,pope4 ,and supposing that the ,pope would yield this point1 so as not to be supreme by divine right or from ,gods command1 but that we must have there must be elected a certain head1 to whom all the rest adhere as their support in order that the concord and unity of ,christians may be preserved against sects and heretics1 and that such a head were chosen by men1 and that it were placed within the choice and power of men to change or remove this head1 just as the ,council of ,constance adopted nearly this course with reference to the ,popes1 deposing three and electing a fourth2 supposing1 ,i say1 that the ,pope and ,see at ,rome would yield and accept this 7which1 nevertheless1 is impossible2 for thus he would have to suffer his entire realm and estate to be overthrown and destroyed1 with all his rights and books1 a thing which1 to speak in few words1 he cannot do71 nevertheless1 even in this way ,christianity would not be helped1 but many more sects would arise than before4 ,for since men would have to be subject to this head1 not from ,god's command1 but from their personal good pleasure1 it would easily and in a short time be despised1 and at last retain no member2 neither would it have to be forever confined to ,rome or any other place1 but it might be wherever and in whatever church ,god would grant a man fit for the taking upon him such a great office4 ,oh1 the complicated and confused state of affairs perplexity that would result6 ,therefore the ,church can never be better governed and preserved than if we all live under one head1 ,christ1 and all the bishops equal in office 7although they be unequal in gifts71 be diligently joined in unity of doctrine1 faith1 ,sacraments1 prayer1 and works of love1 etc41 as ,st4 ,jerome writes that the priests at ,alexandria together and in common governed the churches1 as did also the apostles1 and afterwards all bishops throughout all ,christendom1 until the ,pope raised his head above all4 ,this teaching shows forcefully that the ,pope is the very ,antichrist1 who has exalted himself above1 and opposed himself against ,christ because he will not permit ,christians to be saved without his power1 which1 nevertheless1 is nothing1 and is neither ordained nor commanded by ,god4 ,this is1 properly speaking to exalt himself above all that is called ,god as ,paul says1 #b ,thess4 #b1 #d4 ,even the ,turks or the ,tartars1 great enemies of ,christians as they are1 do not do this1 but they allow whoever wishes to believe in ,christ1 and take bodily tribute and obedience from ,christians4 ,the ,pope1 however1 prohibits this faith1 saying that to be saved a person must obey him4 ,this we are unwilling to do1 even though on this account we must die in ,god s name4 ,this all proceeds from the fact that the ,pope has wished to be called the supreme head of the ,christian ,church by divine right4 ,accordingly he had to make himself equal and superior to ,christ1 and had to cause himself to be proclaimed the head and then the lord of the ,church1 and finally of the whole world1 and simply ,god on earth1 until he has dared to issue commands even to the angels in heaven4 ,and when we distinguish the ,pope s teaching from1 or measure and hold it against1 ,holy ,scripture1 it is found it appears plainly that the ,pope s teaching1 where it is best1 has been taken from the imperial and heathen law and treats of political matters and decisions or rights1 as the ,decretals show2 furthermore1 it teaches of ceremonies concerning churches1 garments1 food1 persons and similar puerile1 theatrical and comical things without measure1 but in all these things nothing at all of ,christ1 faith1 and the commandments of ,god4 ,lastly1 it is nothing else than the devil himself1 because above and against ,god he urges and disseminates his papal falsehoods concerning masses1 purgatory1 the monastic life1 one's own works and fictitious divine worship 7for this is the very ,papacy upon each of which the ,papacy is altogether founded and is standing71 and condemns1 murders and tortures all ,christians who do not exalt and honor these abominations of the ,pope above all things4 ,therefore1 just as little as we can worship the devil himself as ,lord and ,god1 we can endure his apostle1 the ,pope1 or ,antichrist1 in his rule as head or lord4 ,for to lie and to kill1 and to destroy body and soul eternally1 that is wherein his papal government really consists1 as ,i have very clearly shown in many books4 ,in these four articles they will have enough to condemn in the ,council4 ,for they cannot and will not concede us even the least point in one of these articles4 ,of this we should be certain1 and animate ourselves with be forewarned and made firm in the hope that ,christ1 our ,lord1 has attacked ,his adversary1 and he will press the attack home pursue and destroy him both by ,his ,spirit and coming4 ,amen4 ,for in the ,council we will stand not before the ,emperor or the political magistrate1 as at ,augsburg 7where the ,emperor published a most gracious edict1 and caused matters to be heard kindly and dispassionately71 but we will appear before the ,pope and devil himself1 who intends to listen to nothing1 but merely when the case has been publicly announced to condemn1 to murder and to force us to idolatry4 ,therefore we ought not here to kiss his feet1 or to say3 ,thou art my gracious lord1 but as the angel in ,zechariah #c1 #b said to ,satan3 ,the ,lord rebuke thee1 ,o ,satan4 ,,the ,,third ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,articles4 ,concerning the following articles we may will be able to treat with learned and reasonable men1 or among ourselves4 ,the ,pope and his the ,papal government do not care much about these4 ,for with them conscience is nothing1 but money1 glory honors1 power are to them everything4 ,i4 ,of ,sin4 ,here we must confess1 as ,paul says in ,rom4 #e1 #aa1 that sin originated and entered the world from one man ,adam1 by whose disobedience all men were made sinners1 and subject to death and the devil4 ,this is called original or capital sin4 ,the fruits of this sin are afterwards the evil deeds which are forbidden in the ,ten ,commandments1 such as distrust unbelief1 false faith1 idolatry1 to be without the fear of ,god1 presumption recklessness1 despair1 blindness or complete loss of sight1 and1 in short not to know or regard ,god2 furthermore to lie1 to swear by to abuse ,god's name to swear falsely1 not to pray1 not to call upon ,god1 not to regard to despise or neglect ,god's ,word1 to be disobedient to parents1 to murder1 to be unchaste1 to steal1 to deceive1 etc4 ,this hereditary sin is so deep and horrible a corruption of nature that no reason can understand it1 but it must be learned and believed from the revelation of ,scriptures1 ,ps4 #ea1 #e2 ,rom4 #f1 #ab ff42 ,ex4 #cc1 #c2 ,gen4 #c1 #g ff4 ,hence1 it is nothing but error and blindness in regard to this article what the scholastic doctors have taught1 namely3 ,that since the fall of ,adam the natural powers of man have remained entire and incorrupt1 and that man by nature has a right reason and a good will2 which things the philosophers teach4 ,again that man has a free will to do good and omit evil1 and1 conversely1 to omit good and do evil4 ,again1 that man by his natural powers can observe and keep do all the commands of ,god4 ,again1 that1 by his natural powers1 man can love ,god above all things and his neighbor as himself4 ,again1 if a man does as much as is in him1 ,god certainly grants him ,his grace4 ,again1 if he wishes to go to the ,sacrament1 there is no need of a good intention to do good1 but it is sufficient if he has not a wicked purpose to commit sin2 so entirely good is his nature and so efficacious the ,sacrament4 ,again1 that it is not founded upon ,scripture that for a good work the ,holy ,ghost with ,his grace is necessary4 ,such and many similar things have arisen from want of understanding and ignorance as regards both this sin and ,christ1 our ,savior and they are truly heathen dogmas1 which we cannot endure4 ,for if this teaching were right approved1 then ,christ has died in vain1 since there is in man no defect nor sin for which he should have died2 or ,he would have died only for the body1 not for the soul1 inasmuch as the soul is entirely sound1 and the body only is subject to death4 ,,ii4 ,of the ,law ,here we hold that the ,law was given by ,god1 first1 to restrain sin by threats and the dread of punishment1 and by the promise and offer of grace and benefit4 ,but all this miscarried on account of the wickedness which sin has wrought in man4 ,for thereby a part some were rendered worse1 those1 namely1 who are hostile to hate the ,law1 because it forbids what they like to do1 and enjoins what they do not like to do4 ,therefore1 wherever they can escape if they were not restrained by punishment1 they would do more against the ,law than before4 ,these1 then1 are the rude and wicked unbridled and secure men1 who do evil wherever they notice that they have the opportunity4 ,the rest become blind and arrogant are smitten with arrogance and blindness1 and insolently conceive the opinion that they observe and can observe the ,law by their own powers1 as has been said above concerning the scholastic theologians2 thence come the hypocrites and self-righteous or false saints4 ,but the chief office or force of the ,law is that it reveal original sin with all its fruits1 and show man how very low his nature has fallen1 and has become fundamentally and utterly corrupted2 as the ,law must tell man that he has no ,god nor regards cares for ,god1 and worships other gods1 a matter which before and without the ,law he would not have believed4 ,in this way he becomes terrified1 is humbled1 desponds1 despairs1 and anxiously desires aid1 but sees no escape2 he begins to be an enemy of enraged at ,god1 and to murmur1 etc4 ,this is what ,paul says1 ,rom4 #d1 #ae3 ,the ,law worketh wrath4 ,and ,rom4 #e1 #bj3 ,sin is increased by the ,law4 ,the ,law entered that the offense might abound4 ,,iii4 ,of ,repentance4 ,this office of the ,law the ,new ,testament retains and urges1 as ,st4 ,paul1 ,rom4 #a1 #ah does1 saying3 ,the wrath of ,god is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men4 ,again1 #c1 #ai3 ,all the world is guilty before ,god4 ,no man is righteous before ,him4 ,and ,christ says1 ,john #af1 #h3 ,the ,holy ,ghost will reprove the world of sin4 ,this1 then1 is the thunderbolt of ,god by which ,he strikes in a heap hurls to the ground both manifest sinners and false saints hypocrites1 and suffers no one to be in the right declares no one righteous1 but drives them all together to terror and despair4 ,this is the hammer1 as ,jeremiah says1 #bc1 #bi3 ,is not ,my ,word like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces8 ,this is not activa contritio or manufactured repentance1 but passiva contritio torture of conscience1 true sorrow of heart1 suffering and sensation of death4 ,this1 then1 is what it means to begin true repentance2 and here man must hear such a sentence as this3 ,you are all of no account1 whether you be manifest sinners or saints in your own opinion2 you all must become different and do otherwise than you now are and are doing no matter what sort of people you are1 whether you are as great1 wise1 powerful1 and holy as you may4 ,here no one is righteous1 holy1 godly1 etc4 ,but to this office the ,new ,testament immediately adds the consolatory promise of grace through the ,gospel1 which must be believed1 as ,christ declares1 ,mark #a1ae3 ,repent and believe the ,gospel1 i4e41 become different and do otherwise1 and believe ,my promise4 ,and ,john1 preceding ,him1 is called a preacher of repentance1 however1 for the remission of sins1 i4e41 ,john was to accuse all1 and convict them of being sinners1 that they might know what they were before ,god1 and might acknowledge that they were lost men1 and might thus be prepared for the ,lord1 to receive grace1 and to expect and accept from ,him the remission of sins4 ,thus also ,christ ,himself says1 ,luke #bd1 #dg3 ,repentance and remission of sins must be preached in ,my name among all nations4 ,but whenever the ,law alone1 without the ,gospel being added exercises this its office there is nothing else than death and hell1 and man must despair1 like ,saul and ,judas2 as ,st4 ,paul1 ,rom4 #g1 #aj1 says3 ,through sin the ,law killeth4 ,on the other hand1 the ,gospel brings consolation and remission not only in one way1 but through the word and ,sacraments1 and the like1 as we shall hear afterward in order that thus there is with the ,lord plenteous redemption1 as ,ps4 #acj1 #g says against the dreadful captivity of sin4 ,however1 we must now contrast the false repentance of the sophists with true repentance1 in order that both may be the better understood4 ,of the ,false ,repentance of the ,papists4 ,it was impossible that they should teach correctly concerning repentance1 since they did not rightly know the real sins the real sin4 ,for1 as has been shown above1 they do not believe aright concerning original sin1 but say that the natural powers of man have remained entirely unimpaired and incorrupt2 that reason can teach aright1 and the will can in accordance therewith do aright perform those things which are taught1 that ,god certainly bestows ,his grace when a man does as much as is in him1 according to his free will4 ,it had to follow thence from this dogma that they did must do penance only for actual sins such as wicked thoughts to which a person yields 7for wicked emotion concupiscence1 vicious feelings1 and inclinations1 lust and improper dispositions according to them are not sins 71 and for wicked words and wicked deeds1 which free will could readily have omitted4 ,and of such repentance they fix three parts contrition1 confession1 and satisfaction1 with this magnificent consolation and promise added3 ,if man truly repent1 feel remorse1 confess1 render satisfaction1 he thereby would have merited forgiveness1 and paid for his sins before ,god atoned for his sins and obtained a plenary redemption4 ,thus in repentance they instructed men to repose confidence in their own works4 ,hence the expression originated1 which was employed in the pulpit when public absolution was announced to the people3 ,prolong ,o ,god1 my life1 until ,i shall make satisfaction for my sins and amend my life4 ,there was here profound silence and no mention of ,christ nor faith2 but men hoped by their own works to overcome and blot out sins before ,god4 ,and with this intention we became priests and monks1 that we might array ourselves against sin4 ,as to contrition1 this is the way it was done3 ,since no one could remember all his sins 7especially as committed through an entire year71 they inserted this provision1 namely1 that if an unknown sin should be remembered later if the remembrance of a concealed sin should perhaps return1 this also must be repented of and confessed etc4 ,meanwhile they were the person was commended to the grace of ,god4 ,moreover1 since no one could know how great the contrition ought to be in order to be sufficient before ,god1 they gave this consolation3 ,he who could not have contrition1 at least ought to have attrition1 which ,i may call half a contrition or the beginning of contrition1 for they have themselves understood neither of these terms nor do they understand them now1 as little as ,i4 ,such attrition was reckoned as contrition when a person went to confession4 ,and when it happened that any one said that he could not have contrition nor lament his sins 7as might have occurred in illicit love or the desire for revenge1 etc471 they asked whether he did not wish or desire to have contrition lament4 ,when one would reply ,yes 7for who1 save the devil himself1 would here say ,no871 they accepted this as contrition1 and forgave him his sins on account of this good work of his which they adorned with the name of contrition4 ,here they cited the example of ,st4 ,bernard1 etc4 ,here we see how blind reason1 in matters pertaining to ,god1 gropes about1 and1 according to its own imagination1 seeks for consolation in its own works1 and cannot think of entirely forgets ,christ and faith4 ,but if it be clearly viewed in the light1 this contrition is a manufactured and fictitious thought or imagination1 derived from man's own powers1 without faith and without the knowledge of ,christ4 ,and in it the poor sinner1 when he reflected upon his own lust and desire for revenge1 would sometimes perhaps have laughed rather than wept either laughed or wept1 rather than to think of something else1 except such as either had been truly struck by the lightning of the ,law1 or had been vainly vexed by the devil with a sorrowful spirit4 ,otherwise with the exception of these persons such contrition was certainly mere hypocrisy1 and did not mortify the lust for sins flames of sin2 for they had to grieve1 while they would rather have continued to sin1 if it had been free to them4 ,as regards confession1 the procedure was this3 ,every one had was enjoined to enumerate all his sins 7which is an impossible thing74 ,this was a great torment4 ,from such as he had forgotten ,but if any one had forgotten some sins he would be absolved on the condition that1 if they would occur to him1 he must still confess them4 ,in this way he could never know whether he had made a sufficiently pure confession perfectly and correctly1 or when confessing would ever have an end4 ,yet he was pointed to his own works1 and comforted thus3 ,the more fully sincerely and frankly one confesses1 and the more he humiliates himself and debases himself before the priest1 the sooner and better he renders satisfaction for his sins2 for such humility certainly would earn grace before ,god4 ,here1 too1 there was no faith nor ,christ1 and the virtue of the absolution was not declared to him1 but upon his enumeration of sins and his self-abasement depended his consolation4 ,what torture1 rascality1 and idolatry such confession has produced is more than can be related4 ,as to satisfaction1 this is by far the most involved perplexing part of all4 ,for no man could know how much to render for a single sin1 not to say how much for all4 ,here they have resorted to the device of imposing a small satisfaction1 which could indeed be rendered1 as five ,paternosters1 a day's fast1 etc42 for the rest that was lacking of the in their repentance they were directed to purgatory4 ,here1 too1 there was nothing but anguish and extreme misery4 ,for some thought that they would never get out of purgatory1 because1 according to the old canons seven years' repentance is required for a single mortal sin4 ,nevertheless1 confidence was placed upon our work of satisfaction1 and if the satisfaction could have been perfect1 confidence would have been placed in it entirely1 and neither faith nor ,christ would have been of use4 ,but this confidence was impossible4 ,for although any one had done penance in that way for a hundred years1 he would still not have known whether he had finished his penance4 ,that meant forever to do penance and never to come to repentance4 ,here now the ,holy ,see at ,rome1 coming to the aid of the poor ,church1 invented indulgences1 whereby it forgave and remitted expiation or satisfaction1 first1 for a single instance1 for seven years1 for a hundred years and distributed them among the cardinals and bishops1 so that one could grant indulgence for a hundred years and another for a hundred days4 ,but he reserved to himself alone the power to remit the entire satisfaction4 ,now1 since this began to yield money1 and the traffic in bulls became profitable he devised the golden jubilee year a truly goldbearing year1 and fixed it at ,rome4 ,he called this the remission of all punishment and guilt4 ,then the people came running1 because every one would fain have been freed from this grievous1 unbearable burden4 ,this meant to find dig up and raise the treasures of the earth4 ,immediately the ,pope pressed still further1 and multiplied the golden years one upon another4 ,but the more he devoured money1 the wider grew his maw4 ,later1 therefore1 he issued them those golden years of his by his legates everywhere to the countries1 until all churches and houses were full of the ,golden ,year4 ,at last he also made an inroad into purgatory among the dead1 first1 by founding masses and vigils1 afterwards1 by indulgences and the ,golden ,year1 and finally souls became so cheap that he released one for a farthing4 ,but all this1 too1 was of no avail4 ,for although the ,pope taught men to depend upon1 and trust in1 these indulgences for salvation1 yet he rendered the whole matter again uncertain4 ,for in his bulls he declares3 ,whoever would share in the indulgences or a ,golden ,year must be contrite1 and have confessed1 and pay money4 ,now1 we have heard above that this contrition and confession are with them uncertain and hypocrisy4 ,likewise1 also no one knew what soul was in purgatory1 and if some were therein1 no one knew which had properly repented and confessed4 ,thus he took the precious money the ,pope snatched up the holy pence1 and comforted them meanwhile with led them to confidence in his power and indulgence1 and then again led them away from that and directed them again to their uncertain work4 ,if1 now although1 there were some who did not believe acknowledge themselves guilty of such actual sins in committed by thoughts1 words1 and works1--as ,i1 and such as ,i1 in monasteries and chapters fraternities or colleges of priests1 wished to be monks and priests1 and by fasting1 watching1 praying1 saying ,mass1 coarse garments1 and hard beds1 etc41 fought against strove to resist evil thoughts1 and in full earnest and with force wanted to be holy1 and yet the hereditary1 inborn evil sometimes did in sleep what it is wont to do 7as also ,st4 ,augustine and ,jerome among others confess71--still each one held the other in esteem1 so that some1 according to our teaching1 were regarded as holy1 without sin and full of good works1 so much so that with this mind we would communicate and sell our good works to others1 as being superfluous to us for heaven4 ,this is indeed true1 and seals1 letters1 and instances that this happened are at hand4 ,when there were such1 ,i say ,these did not need repentance4 ,for of what would they repent1 since they had not indulged wicked thoughts8 ,what would they confess concerning words not uttered1 since they had avoided words8 ,for what should they render satisfaction1 since they were so guiltless of any deed that they could even sell their superfluous righteousness to other poor sinners8 ,such saints were also the ,pharisees and scribes in the time of ,christ4 ,here comes the fiery angel1 ,st4 ,john ,rev4 #aj1 the true preacher of true repentance1 and with one thunderclap and bolt hurls both those selling and those buying works on one heap1 and says3 ,repent6 ,matt4 #c1 #b4 ,now1 the former the poor wretches imagine3 ,why1 we have repented6 ,the latter the rest say3 ,we need no repentance4 ,john says3 ,repent ye1 both of you1 for ye are false penitents2 so are these the rest false saints or hypocrites1 and all of you on either side need the forgiveness of sins1 because neither of you know what true sin is not to say anything about your duty to repent of it and shun it4 ,for no one of you is good2 you are full of unbelief1 stupidity1 and ignorance of ,god and ,god's will4 ,for here ,he is present of whose fulness have all we received1 and grace for grace1 ,john #a1 #af1 and without ,him no man can be just before ,god4 ,therefore1 if you wish to repent1 repent aright- your penance will not accomplish anything is nothing4 ,and you hypocrites1 who do not need repentance1 you serpents' brood1 who has assured you that you will escape the wrath to come8 etc4 ,matt4 #c1 #g2 ,luke #c1 #g4 ,in the same way ,paul also preaches1 ,rom4 #c1 #aj-ab3 ,there is none righteous1 there is none that understandeth1 there is none that seeketh after ,god1 there is none that doeth good1 no not one2 they are all gone out of the way2 they are together become unprofitable4 ,and ,acts #ag1 #cj3 ,god now commandeth all men everywhere to repent4 ,all men1 he says2 no one excepted who is a man4 ,this repentance teaches us to discern sin1 namely1 that we are altogether lost1 and that there is nothing good in us from head to foot both within and without1 and that we must absolutely become new and other men4 ,this repentance is not piecemeal partial and beggarly fragmentary1 like that which does penance for actual sins1 nor is it uncertain like that4 ,for it does not debate what is or is not sin1 but hurls everything on a heap1 and says3 ,all in us is nothing but sin affirms that1 with respect to us1 all is simply sin 7and there is nothing in us that is not sin and guilt74 ,what is the use of ,for why do we wish investigating1 dividing1 or distinguishing a long time8 ,for this reason1 too1 this contrition is not doubtful or uncertain4 ,for there is nothing left with which we can think of any good thing to pay for sin1 but there is only a sure despairing concerning all that we are1 think1 speak1 or do all hope must be cast aside in respect of everything1 etc4 ,in like manner confession1 too1 cannot be false1 uncertain1 or piecemeal mutilated or fragmentary4 ,for he who confesses that all in him is nothing but sin comprehends all sins excludes none1 forgets none4 ,neither can the satisfaction be uncertain1 because it is not our uncertain1 sinful work1 but it is the suffering and blood of the spotless and innocent ,lamb of ,god who taketh away the sin of the world4 ,of this repentance ,john preaches1 and afterwards ,christ in the ,gospel1 and we also4 ,by this preaching of repentance we dash to the ground the ,pope and everything that is built upon our good works4 ,for all is built upon a rotten and vain foundation1 which is called a good work or law1 even though no good work is there1 but only wicked works1 and no one does the ,law 7as ,christ1 ,john #g1 #ai1 says71 but all transgress it4 ,therefore the building that is raised upon it is nothing but falsehood and hypocrisy1 even in the part where it is most holy and beautiful4 ,and in ,christians this repentance continues until death1 because1 through the entire life it contends with sin remaining in the flesh1 as ,paul1 ,rom4 #g1 #ad-be1 shows testifies that he wars with the law in his members1 etc42 and that1 not by his own powers1 but by the gift of the ,holy ,ghost that follows the remission of sins4 ,this gift daily cleanses and sweeps out the remaining sins1 and works so as to render man truly pure and holy4 ,the ,pope1 the theologians1 the jurists1 and every other man know nothing of this from their own reason1 but it is a doctrine from heaven1 revealed through the ,gospel1 and must suffer to be called heresy by the godless saints or hypocrites4 ,on the other hand1 if certain sectarists would arise1 some of whom are perhaps already extant1 and in the time of the insurrection of the peasants came to my own view1 holding that all those who had once received the ,spirit or the forgiveness of sins1 or had become believers1 even though they should afterwards sin1 would still remain in the faith1 and such sin would not harm them1 and hence crying thus3 ,do whatever you please2 if you believe1 it all amounts to nothing2 faith blots out all sins1 etc4--they say1 besides1 that if any one sins after he has received faith and the ,spirit1 he never truly had the ,spirit and faith3 ,i have had before me seen and heard many such insane men1 and ,i fear that in some such a devil is still remaining hiding and dwelling4 ,it is1 accordingly1 necessary to know and to teach that when holy men1 still having and feeling original sin1 also daily repenting of and striving with it1 happen to fall into manifest sins1 as ,david into adultery1 murder1 and blasphemy1 that then faith and the ,holy ,ghost has departed from them they cast out faith and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for the ,holy ,ghost does not permit sin to have dominion1 to gain the upper hand so as to be accomplished1 but represses and restrains it so that it must not do what it wishes4 ,but if it does what it wishes1 the ,holy ,ghost and faith are certainly not present4 ,for ,st4 ,john says1 #a ,ep4 #c1 #i3 ,whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin1444 and he cannot sin4 ,and yet it is also the truth when the same ,st4 ,john says1 #a ,ep4 #a1 #h3 ,if we say that we have no sin1 we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us4 ,,iv4 ,of the ,gospel4 ,we will now return to the ,gospel1 which not merely in one way gives us counsel and aid against sin2 for ,god is superabundantly rich and liberal in ,his grace and goodness4 ,first1 through the spoken ,word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached ,he commands to be preached in the whole world2 which is the peculiar office of the ,gospel4 ,secondly1 through ,baptism4 ,thirdly1 through the holy ,sacrament of the ,altar4 ,fourthly1 through the power of the keys1 and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren1 ,matt4 #ah1 #bj3 ,where two or three are gathered together1 etc4 ,v4 ,of ,baptism4 ,baptism is nothing else than the ,word of ,god in the water1 commanded by ,his institution1 or1 as ,paul says1 a washing in the ,word2 as also ,augustine says3 ,let the ,word come to the element1 and it becomes a ,sacrament4 ,and for this reason we do not hold with ,thomas and the monastic preachers or ,dominicans who forget the ,word 7,god's institution7 and say that ,god has imparted to the water a spiritual power1 which through the water washes away sin4 ,nor do we agree with ,scotus and the ,barefooted monks ,minorites or ,franciscan monks1 who teach that1 by the assistance of the divine will1 ,baptism washes away sins1 and that this ablution occurs only through the will of ,god1 and by no means through the ,word or water4 ,of the baptism of children we hold that children ought to be baptized4 ,for they belong to the promised redemption made through ,christ1 and the ,church should administer it ,baptism and the announcement of that promise to them4 ,,vi4 ,of the ,sacrament of the ,altar4 ,of the ,sacrament of the ,altar we hold that bread and wine in the ,supper are the true body and blood of ,christ1 and are given and received not only by the godly1 but also by wicked ,christians4 ,and that not only one form is to be given4 ,for we do not need that high art specious wisdom which is to teach us that under the one form there is as much as under both1 as the sophists and the ,council of ,constance teach4 ,for even if it were true that there is as much under one as under both1 yet the one form only is not the entire ordinance and institution made ordained and commanded by ,christ4 ,and we especially condemn and in ,god's name execrate those who not only omit both forms but also quite autocratically tyrannically prohibit1 condemn1 and blaspheme them as heresy1 and so exalt themselves against and above ,christ1 our ,lord and ,god opposing and placing themselves ahead of ,christ1 etc4 ,as regards transubstantiation1 we care nothing about the sophistical subtlety by which they teach that bread and wine leave or lose their own natural substance1 and that there remain only the appearance and color of bread1 and not true bread4 ,for it is in perfect agreement with ,holy ,scriptures that there is1 and remains1 bread1 as ,paul himself calls it1 #a ,cor4 #aj1 #af3 ,the bread which we break4 ,and #a ,cor4 #aa1 #bh3 ,let him so eat of that bread4 ,,vii4 ,of the ,keys4 ,the keys are an office and power given by ,christ to the ,church for binding and loosing sin1 not only the gross and well-known sins1 but also the subtle1 hidden1 which are known only to ,god1 as it is written in ,ps4 #ai1 #ac3 ,who can understand his errors8 ,and in ,rom4 #g1 #be ,st4 ,paul himself complains that with the flesh he serves the law of sin4 ,for it is not in our power1 but belongs to ,god alone1 to judge which1 how great1 and how many the sins are1 as it is written in ,ps4 #adc1 #b3 ,enter not into judgment with ,thy servant2 for in ,thy sight shall no man living be justified4 ,and ,paul1 #a ,cor4 #d1 #d1 says3 ,for ,i know nothing by myself2 yet am ,i not hereby justified4 ,,viii4 ,of ,confession4 ,since ,absolution or the ,power of the ,keys is also an aid and consolation against sin and a bad conscience1 ordained by ,christ ,himself in the ,gospel1 ,confession or ,absolution ought by no means to be abolished in the ,church1 especially on account of tender and timid consciences and on account of the untrained and capricious young people1 in order that they may be examined1 and instructed in the ,christian doctrine4 ,but the enumeration of sins ought to be free to every one1 as to what he wishes to enumerate or not to enumerate4 ,for as long as we are in the flesh1 we shall not lie when we say3 ,i am a poor man ,i acknowledge that ,i am a miserable sinner1 full of sin4 ,rom4 #g1 #bc3 ,i see another law in my members1 etc4 ,for since private absolution originates in the ,office of the ,keys1 it should not be despised neglected1 but greatly and highly esteemed of the greatest worth1 as also all other offices of the ,christian ,church4 ,and in those things which concern the spoken1 outward ,word1 we must firmly hold that ,god grants ,his ,spirit or grace to no one1 except through or with the preceding outward ,word1 in order that we may thus be protected against the enthusiasts1 i4e41 spirits who boast that they have the ,spirit without and before the ,word1 and accordingly judge ,scripture or the spoken ,word1 and explain and stretch it at their pleasure1 as ,muenzer did1 and many still do at the present day1 who wish to be acute judges between the ,spirit and the letter1 and yet know not what they say or declare4 ,for indeed the ,papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm1 by which the ,pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart1 and whatever he decides and commands with in his church is spirit and right1 even though it is above and contrary to ,scripture and the spoken ,word4 ,all this is the old devil and old serpent1 who also converted ,adam and ,eve into enthusiasts1 and led them from the outward ,word of ,god to spiritualizing and self-conceit1 and nevertheless he accomplished this through other outward words4 ,just as also our enthusiasts at the present day condemn the outward ,word1 and nevertheless they themselves are not silent1 but they fill the world with their pratings and writings1 as though1 indeed1 the ,spirit could not come through the writings and spoken word of the apostles1 but first through their writings and words he must come4 ,why then do not they also omit their own sermons and writings1 until the ,spirit ,himself come to men1 without their writings and before them1 as they boast that ,me has come into them without the preaching of the ,scriptures8 ,but of these matters there is not time now to dispute at greater length2 we have elsewhere sufficiently urged this subject4 ,for even those who believe before ,baptism1 or become believing in ,baptism1 believe through the preceding outward ,word1 as the adults1 who have come to reason1 must first have heard3 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved1 even though they are at first unbelieving1 and receive the ,spirit and ,baptism ten years afterwards4 ,cornelius1 ,acts #aj1 #a ff41 had heard long before among the ,jews of the coming ,messiah1 through whom he was righteous before ,god1 and in such faith his prayers and alms were acceptable to ,god 7as ,luke calls him devout and ,god-fearing71 and without such preceding ,word and hearing could not have believed or been righteous4 ,but ,st4 ,peter had to reveal to him that the ,messiah 7in whom1 as one that was to come1 he had hitherto believed7 now had come1 lest his faith concerning the coming ,messiah hold him captive among the hardened and unbelieving ,jews1 but know that he was now to be saved by the present ,messiah1 and must not1 with the rabble of the ,jews deny nor persecute ,him4 ,in a word1 enthusiasm inheres in ,adam and his children from the beginning from the first fall to the end of the world1 its poison having been implanted and infused into them by the old dragon1 and is the origin1 power life1 and strength of all heresy1 especially of that of the ,papacy and ,mahomet4 ,therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point1 that ,god does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken ,word and the ,sacraments4 ,it is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as ,spirit without the ,word and ,sacraments4 ,for ,god wished to appear even to ,moses through the burning bush and spoken ,word2 and no prophet neither ,elijah nor ,elisha1 received the ,spirit without the ,ten ,commandments or spoken ,word4 ,neither was ,john the ,baptist conceived without the preceding word of ,gabriel1 nor did he leap in his mother's womb without the voice of ,mary4 ,and ,peter says1 #b4 ,ep4 #a1 #ba3 ,the prophecy came not by the will of man2 but holy men of ,god spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,without the outward ,word1 however1 they were not holy1 much less would the ,holy ,ghost have moved them to speak when they still were unholy or profane2 for they were holy1 says he1 since the ,holy ,ghost spake through them4 ,,ix4 ,of ,excommunication4 ,the greater excommunication1 as the ,pope calls it1 we regard only as a civil penalty1 and it does not concern us ministers of the ,church4 ,but the lesser1 that is1 the true ,christian excommunication1 consists in this1 that manifest and obstinate sinners are not admitted to the ,sacrament and other communion of the ,church until they amend their lives and avoid sin4 ,and ministers ought not to mingle secular punishments with this ecclesiastical punishment1 or excommunication4 ,x4 ,of ,ordination and the ,call4 ,if the bishops would be true bishops would rightly discharge their office1 and would devote themselves to the ,church and the ,gospel1 it might be granted to them for the sake of love and unity1 but not from necessity1 to ordain and confirm us and our preachers2 omitting1 however1 all comedies and spectacular display deceptions1 absurdities1 and appearances of unchristian heathenish parade and pomp4 ,but because they neither are1 nor wish to be1 true bishops1 but worldly lords and princes1 who will neither preach1 nor teach1 nor baptize1 nor administer the ,lord's ,supper1 nor perform any work or office of the ,church1 and1 moreover1 persecute and condemn those who discharge these functions1 having been called to do so1 the ,church ought not on their account to remain without ministers to be forsaken by or deprived of ministers4 ,therefore1 as the ancient examples of the ,church and the ,fathers teach us1 we ourselves will and ought to ordain suitable persons to this office2 and1 even according to their own laws1 they have not the right to forbid or prevent us4 ,for their laws say that those ordained even by heretics should be declared truly ordained and stay ordained and that such ordination must not be changed1 as ,st4 ,jerome writes of the ,church at ,alexandria1 that at first it was governed in common by priests and preachers1 without bishops4 ,,xi4 ,of the ,marriage of ,priests4 ,to prohibit marriage1 and to burden the divine order of priests with perpetual celibacy1 they have had neither authority nor right they have done out of malice1 without any honest reason1 but have acted like antichristian1 tyrannical1 desperate scoundrels have performed the work of antichrist1 of tyrants and the worst knaves1 and have thereby caused all kinds of horrible1 abominable1 innumerable sins of unchastity depraved lusts1 in which they still wallow4 ,now1 as little as we or they have been given the power to make a woman out of a man or a man out of a woman1 or to nullify either sex1 so little have they had the power to sunder and separate such creatures of ,god1 or to forbid them from living and cohabiting honestly in marriage with one another4 ,therefore we are unwilling to assent to their abominable celibacy1 nor will we even tolerate it1 but we wish to have marriage free as ,god has instituted and ordained it1 and we wish neither to rescind nor hinder ,his work2 for ,paul says1 #a ,tim4 #d1 #a ff41 that this prohibition of marriage is a doctrine of devils4 ,,xii4 ,of the ,church4 ,we do not concede to them that they are the ,church1 and in truth they are not the ,church2 nor will we listen to those things which1 under the name of ,church1 they enjoin or forbid4 ,for1 thank ,god1 to-day a child seven years old knows what the ,church is1 namely1 the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their ,shepherd4 ,for the children pray thus3 ,i believe in one holy catholic or ,christian ,church4 ,this holiness does not consist in albs1 tonsures1 long gowns1 and other of their ceremonies devised by them beyond ,holy ,scripture1 but in the ,word of ,god and true faith4 ,,xiii4 ,how ,one is ,justified before ,god1 and of ,good ,works4 ,what ,i have hitherto and constantly taught concerning this ,i know not how to change in the least1 namely1 that by faith1 as ,st4 ,peter says1 we acquire a new and clean heart1 and ,god will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of ,christ1 our ,mediator4 ,and although sin in the flesh has not yet been altogether removed or become dead1 yet ,he will not punish or remember it4 ,and such faith1 renewal1 and forgiveness of sins is followed by good works4 ,and what there is still sinful or imperfect also in them shall not be accounted as sin or defect1 even and that1 too for ,christ's sake2 but the entire man1 both as to his person and his works1 is to be called and to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy1 shed upon us unfolded and spread over us in ,christ4 ,therefore we cannot boast of many merits and works1 if they are viewed apart from grace and mercy1 but as it is written1 #a ,cor4 #a1 #ca3 ,he that glorieth1 let him glory in the ,lord1 namely1 that he has a gracious ,god4 ,for thus all is well4 ,we say1 besides1 that if good works do not follow1 faith is false and not true4 ,,xiv4 ,of ,monastic ,vows4 ,as monastic vows directly conflict with the first chief article1 they must be absolutely abolished4 ,for it is of them that ,christ says1 ,matt4 #bd1 #e4 #bc ff43 ,i am ,christ1 etc4 ,for he who makes a vow to live as a monk believes that he will enter upon a mode of life holier than ordinary ,christians lead1 and wishes to earn heaven by his own works not only for himself1 but also for others2 this is to deny ,christ4 ,and they boast from their ,st4 ,thomas that a monastic vow is equal to ,baptism4 ,this is blasphemy against ,god4 ,,xv4 ,of ,human ,traditions4 ,the declaration of the ,papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins1 or merit salvation1 is altogether unchristian and condemned1 as ,christ says ,matt4 #ae1 #i3 ,in vain they do worship ,me1 teaching for doctrines the commandments of men4 ,again1 ,titus #a1 #ad3 ,that turn from the truth4 ,again1 when they declare that it is a mortal sin if one breaks these ordinances does not keep these statutes1 this1 too1 is not right4 ,these are the articles on which ,i must stand1 and1 ,god willing1 shall stand even to my death2 and ,i do not know how to change or to yield anything in them4 ,if any one wishes to yield anything1 let him do it at the peril of his conscience4 ,lastly1 there still remains the ,pope's bag of impostures concerning foolish and childish articles1 as1 the dedication of churches1 the baptism of bells1 the baptism of the altarstone1 and the inviting of sponsors to these rites1 who would make donations towards them4 ,such baptizing is a reproach and mockery of ,holy ,baptism1 hence should not be tolerated4 ,furthermore1 concerning the consecration of wax-tapers1 palm-branches1 cakes1 oats1 herbs1 spices1 etc41 which indeed1 cannot be called consecrations1 but are sheer mockery and fraud4 ,and such deceptions there are without number1 which we commend for adoration to their god and to themselves1 until they weary of it4 ,we will ought to have nothing to do with them4 ,dr4 ,martin ,luther subscribed4 ,dr4 ,justus ,jonas1 ,rector1 subscribed with his own hand4 ,dr4 ,john ,bugenhagen1 ,pomeranus1 subscribed4 ,dr4 ,caspar ,creutziger subscribed4 ,nicholas ,amsdorf of ,magdeburg subscribed4 ,george ,spalatin of ,altenburg subscribed4 ,i1 ,philip ,melanchthon1 also regard approve the above articles as right and ,christian4 ,but regarding the ,pope ,i hold that1 if he would allow the ,gospel1 his superiority over the bishops which he has otherwise1 is conceded to him by human right also by us1 for the sake of the peace and general unity of those ,christians who are also under him1 and may be under him hereafter4 ,john ,agricola of ,eisleben subscribed4 ,gabriel ,didymus subscribed4 ,i1 ,dr4 ,urban ,rhegius1 ,superintendent of the churches in the ,duchy of ,lueneburg1 subscribe in my own name and in the name of my brethren1 and of the ,church of ,hanover4 ,i1 ,stephen ,agricola1 ,minister at ,hof1 subscribe4 ,also ,i1 ,john ,draconites1 ,professor and ,minister at ,marburg1 subscribe4 ,i1 ,conrad ,figenbotz1 for the glory of ,god subscribe that ,i have thus believed1 and am still preaching and firmly believing as above4 ,i1 ,andrew ,osiander of ,nuernberg1 subscribe4 ,i1 ,magister ,veit ,dieterich1 ,minister at ,nuernberg1 subscribe4 ,i1 ,erhard ,schnepf1 ,preacher at ,stuttgart1 subscribe4 ,conrad ,oettinger1 ,preacher of ,duke ,ulrich at ,pforzheim4 ,simon ,schneeweiss1 ,pastor of the ,church at ,crailsheim4 ,i1 ,john ,schlagenhaufen1 ,pastor of the ,church at ,koethen1 subscribe4 ,the ,reverend ,magister ,george ,helt of ,forchheim4 ,the ,reverend ,magister ,adam of ,fulda1 ,preacher in ,hesse4 ,the ,reverend ,magister ,anthony ,corvinus1 ,preacher in ,hesse4 ,i1 ,doctor ,john ,bugenhagen1 ,pomeranus1 again subscribe in the name of ,magister ,john ,brentz1 as on departing from ,smalcald he directed me orally and by a letter1 which ,i have shown to these brethren who have subscribed4 ,i1 ,dionysius ,melander1 subscribe to the ,confession1 the ,apology1 and the ,concordia on the subject of the ,eucharist4 ,paul ,rhodius1 ,superintendent of ,stettin4 ,gerard ,oemcken1 ,superintendent of the ,church at ,minden4 ,i1 ,brixius ,northanus1 ,minister of the ,church of ,christ which is at ,soest1 subscribe to the ,articles of the ,reverend ,father ,martin ,luther1 and confess that hitherto ,i have thus believed and taught1 and by the ,spirit of ,christ ,i shall continue thus to believe and teach4 ,michael ,caelius1 ,preacher at ,mansfeld1 subscribed4 ,the ,reverend ,magister ,peter ,geltner ,preacher at ,frankfort1 subscribed4 ,wendal ,faber1 ,pastor of ,seeburg in ,mansfeld4 ,i1 ,john ,aepinus1 subscribe4 ,likewise1 ,i1 ,john ,amsterdam of ,bremen4 ,i1 ,frederick ,myconius1 ,pastor of the ,church at ,gotha in ,thuringia1 subscribe in my own name and in that of ,justus ,menius of ,eisenach4 ,i1 ,doctor ,john ,lang1 ,preacher of the ,church at ,erfurt1 subscribe with my own hand in my own name1 and in that of my other coworkers in the ,gospel1 namely3 ,the ,reverend ,licentiate ,ludwig ,platz of ,melsungen4 ,the ,reverend ,magister ,sigismund ,kirchner1 ,the ,reverend ,wolfgang ,kiswetter1 ,the ,reverend ,melchior ,weitmann ,the ,reverend ,john ,thall4 ,the ,reverend ,john ,kilian4 ,the ,reverend ,nicholas ,faber4 ,the ,reverend ,andrew ,menser4 ,and ,i1 ,egidius ,mechler1 have subscribed with my own hand4