We do not concede to them that they are the Church, and [in truth] they are not [the Church]; nor will we listen to those things which, under the name of Church, they enjoin or forbid.
For, thank God, [to-day] a child seven years old knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd.For the children pray thus: Ibelieve in one holy [catholic or] Christian Church.This holiness does not consist in albs, tonsures, long gowns, and other of their ceremonies devised by them beyond Holy Scripture, but in the Word of God and true faith.
XIII.How One is Justified before God, and of Good Works.
What I have hitherto and constantly taught concerning this Iknow not how to change in the least, namely, that by faith, as St.Peter says, we acquire a new and clean heart, and God will and does account us entirely righteous and holy for the sake of Christ, our Mediator.And although sin in the flesh has not yet been altogether removed or become dead, yet He will not punish or remember it.
And such faith, renewal, and forgiveness of sins is followed by good works.And what there is still sinful or imperfect also in them shall not be accounted as sin or defect, even [and that, too] for Christ's sake; but the entire man, both as to his person and his works, is to be called and to be righteous and holy from pure grace and mercy, shed upon us [unfolded] and spread over us in Christ.Therefore we cannot boast of many merits and works, if they are viewed apart from grace and mercy, but as it is written, 1 Cor.1, 31: He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, namely, that he has a gracious God.For thus all is well.We say, besides, that if good works do not follow, faith is false and not true.
XIV.Of Monastic Vows.
As monastic vows directly conflict with the first chief article, they must be absolutely abolished.For it is of them that Christ says, Matt.24, 5.23 ff.: I am Christ, etc.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 lead, and wishes to earn heaven by his own works not only for himself, but also for others; this is to deny Christ.And they boast from their St.Thomas that a monastic vow is equal to Baptism.This is blasphemy [against God].
XV.Of Human Traditions.
The declaration of the Papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins, or merit salvation, is [altogether]
unchristian and condemned, as Christ says Matt.15, 9: In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.Again, Titus 1, 14: That turn from the truth.Again, when they declare that it is a mortal sin if one breaks these ordinances [does not keep these statutes], this, too, is not right.
These are the articles on which I must stand, and, God willing, shall stand even to my death; and I do not know how to change or to yield anything in them.If any one wishes to yield anything, let him do it at the peril of his conscience.
