The Confession of the Faith of the Germans

First therefore we must by faith receive remission of since before or we do work the law, all be it (as it was above said) love followeth faith, because they that be regenerate do receive the holy ghost, and therefore they begin to work the law. We would recite mo testimonies and authorities, if it were not so, that they be open and at hand to every devout and godly reader in the scriptures. For we covet not to be overlong and tedious, to the intent that this cause or matter may the more easily be perceived. Neither is it any doubt, but that this is the sentence of Paul, which we do defend, that by faith we receive remission of sins for Christs sake, and that by faith we ought to set Christ the mediator against the wrath of god, & not our works. And let not the minds of good men be troubled, ⟨image 117⟩although our adversaries do calumniate and corrupt the sentences of Paul. There is nothing spoken so purely and truly, but it may be depraved by captious cavillations. We assuredly know, that this, which we have recited, is the very right and true sentence and meaning of Paul. we know this our sentence doth bring firm and stable comfort to godly consciences, without which no man is able to stand in the judgement of god. Wherefore let these pharisaical opinions of our adversaries be rejected and thrust out of mens •ertes, that we do not by faith receive remission of since: but that we must merit remission with our love, and with our works, and that we ought to set our love, and our works against the wrath of god· This is the doctrine of the law, & not of the gospel, which doth feign and imagine that man is first justified by the law, before that he be reconciled by Christ to god, notwithstanding that Christ him self saith, Without me •e can do nothing. Also, I am the true vine, and ye be the branches. But our adversaries do imagine, that we be the branches not of Christ, but of Moses. For they will first be justified by the law, and offer their love & works unto god, before that they be reconciled to god by Christ, before that they be branches of Christ. Paul contrariwise saith plainly, that the law can not be wrought nor fulfilled without Christ. Therefore the promise is first to be received, that by faith we may be reconciled to god, for Christs sake, or that we work the law.

Fyrste therfore we must by faythe receyue remission of synnes before or we do worke the lawe, al be it (as it was aboue saide) loue foloweth faythe, because they that be regenerate do receyue the holy ghoste, and therfore they begynne to worke the lawe. We wolde recite mo testimonies and authorities, if it were not so, that they be open and at hande to euery deuoute and godlye reader in the scriptures. For we couet not to be ouerlōge and tedious, to thentente that this cause or mater may the more easelye be perceyued. Neyther is it any doubte, but that this is the sentēce of Paule, whiche we do defēde, that by fayth we receyue remission of sinnes for Christis sake, and that by fayth we ought to set Christe the mediator agaynst the wrathe of god, & not our workes. And let not the myndes of good men be troubled,