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the augsburg confession-第4章

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this Article: the forgiveness of sins。 Hence; they hate God as 

an enemy; call not upon Him; and expect no good from Him。 

Augustine also admonishes his readers concerning the word 

〃faith;〃 and teaches that the term 〃faith〃 is accepted in the 

Scriptures not for knowledge such as is in the ungodly but for 

confidence which consoles and encourages the terrified mind。  



Furthermore; it is taught on our part that it is necessary to 

do good works; not that we should trust to merit grace by 

them; but because it is the will of God。 It is only by faith 

that forgiveness of sins is apprehended; and that; for 

nothing。 And because through faith the Holy Ghost is received; 

hearts are renewed and endowed with new affections; so as to 

be able to bring forth good works。 For Ambrose says: Faith is 

the mother of a good will and right doing。 For man's powers 

without the Holy Ghost are full of ungodly affections; and are 

too weak to do works which are good in God's sight。 Besides; 

they are in the power of the devil who impels men to divers 

sins; to ungodly opinions; to open crimes。 This we may see in 

the philosophers; who; although they endeavored to live an 

honest life could not succeed; but were defiled with many open 

crimes。 Such is the feebleness of man when he is without faith 

and without the Holy Ghost; and governs himself only by human 

strength。  



Hence it may be readily seen that this doctrine is not to be 

charged with prohibiting good works; but rather the more to be 

commended; because it shows how we are enabled to do good 

works。 For without faith human nature can in no wise do the 

works of the First or of the Second Commandment。 Without faith 

it does not call upon God; nor expect anything from God; nor 

bear the cross; but seeks; and trusts in; man's help。 And 

thus; when there is no faith and trust in God all manner of 

lusts and human devices rule in the heart。 Wherefore Christ 

said; John 16;6: Without Me ye can do nothing; and the Church 

sings:  

Lacking Thy divine favor; 

There is nothing found in man; 

Naught in him is harmless。  





Article XXI: Of the Worship of the Saints。 



Of the Worship of Saints they teach that the memory of saints 

may be set before us; that we may follow their faith and good 

works; according to our calling; as the Emperor may follow the 

example of David in making war to drive away the Turk from his 

country; For both are kings。 But the Scripture teaches not the 

invocation of saints or to ask help of saints; since it sets 

before us the one Christ as the Mediator; Propitiation; High 

Priest; and Intercessor。 He is to be prayed to; and has 

promised that He will hear our prayer; and this worship He 

approves above all; to wit; that in all afflictions He be 

called upon; 1 John 2; 1: If any man sin; we have an Advocate 

with the Father; etc。 



This is about the Sum of our Doctrine; in which; as can be 

seen; there is nothing that varies from the Scriptures; or 

from the Church Catholic; or from the Church of Rome as known 

from its writers。 This being the case; they judge harshly who 

insist that our teachers be regarded as heretics。 There is; 

however; disagreement on certain Abuses; which have crept into 

the Church without rightful authority。 And even in these; if 

there were some difference; there should be proper lenity on 

the part of bishops to bear with us by reason of the 

Confession which we have now reviewed; because even the Canons 

are not so severe as to demand the same rites everywhere; 

neither; at any time; have the rites of all churches been the 

same; although; among us; in large part; the ancient rites are 

diligently observed。 For it is a false and malicious charge 

that all the ceremonies; all the things instituted of old; are 

abolished in our churches。 But it has been a common complaint 

that some abuses were connected with the ordinary rites。 

These; inasmuch as they could not be approved with a good 

conscience; have been to some extent corrected。 



ARTICLES IN WHICH ARE REVIEWED 

THE ABUSES WHICH HAVE BEEN 

CORRECTED。 



Inasmuch; then; as our churches dissent in no article of the 

faith from the Church Catholic; but only omit some abuses 

which are new; and which have been erroneously accepted by the 

corruption of the times; contrary to the intent of the Canons; 

we pray that Your Imperial Majesty would graciously hear both 

what has been changed; and what were the reasons why the 

people were not compelled to observe those abuses against 

their conscience。 Nor should Your Imperial Majesty believe 

those who; in order to excite the hatred of men against our 

part; disseminate strange slanders among the people。 Having 

thus excited the minds of good men; they have first given 

occasion to this controversy; and now endeavor; by the same 

arts; to increase the discord。 For Your Imperial Majesty will 

undoubtedly find that the form of doctrine and of ceremonies 

with us is not so intolerable as these ungodly and malicious 

men represent。 Besides; the truth cannot be gathered from 

common rumors or the revilings of enemies。 But it can readily 

be judged that nothing would serve better to maintain the 

dignity of ceremonies; and to nourish reverence and pious 

devotion among the people than if the ceremonies were observed 

rightly in the churches。  





Article XXII: Of Both Kinds in the Sacrament。 



To the laity are given Both Kinds in the Sacrament of the 

Lord's Supper; because this usage has the commandment of the  

Lord in Matt。 26; 27: Drink ye all of it; where Christ has 

manifestly commanded concerning the cup that all should drink。  



And lest any man should craftily say that this refers only to 

priests; Paul in 1 Cor。 11;27 recites an example from which it 

appears that the whole congregation did use both kinds。 And 

this usage has long remained in the Church; nor is it known 

when; or by whose authority; it was changed; although Cardinal 

Cusanus mentions the time when it was approved。 Cyprian in 

some places testifies that the blood was given to the people。 

The same is testified by Jerome; who says: The priests 

administer the Eucharist; and distribute the blood of Christ 

to the people。 Indeed; Pope Gelasius commands that the 

Sacrament be not divided (dist。 II。; De Consecratione; cap。 

Comperimus)。 Only custom; not so ancient; has it otherwise。 

But it is evident that any custom introduced against the 

commandments of God is not to be allowed; as the Canons 

witness (dist。 III。; cap。 Veritate; and the following 

chapters)。 But this custom has been received; not only against 

the Scripture; but also against the old Canons and the example 

of the Church。 Therefore; if any preferred to use both kinds 

of the Sacrament; they ought not to have been compelled with 

offense to their consciences to do otherwise。 And because the 

division of the Sacrament does not agree with the ordinance of 

Christ; we are accustomed to omit the procession; which 

hitherto has been in use。  







Article XXIII: Of the Marriage of Priests。 



There has been common complaint concerning the examples of 

priests who were not chaste。 For that reason also Pope Pius is 

reported to have said that there were certain causes why 

marriage was taken away from priests; but that there were far 

weightier ones why it ought to be given back; for so Platina 

writes。 Since; therefore; our priests were desirous to avoid 

these open scandals; they married wives; and taught that it 

was lawful for them to contract matrimony。 First; because Paul 

says; 1 Cor。 7; 2。 9: To avoid fornication; let every man have 

his own wife。 Also: It is better to marry than to burn。 

Secondly Christ says; Matt。 19;11: All men cannot receive this 

saying; where He teaches that not all men are fit to lead a 

single life; for God created man for procreation; Gen。 1; 28。 

Nor is it in man's power; without a singular gift and work of 

God; to alter this creation。 'For it is manifest; and many 

have confessed that no good; honest; chaste life; no 

Christian; sincere; upright conduct has resulted (from the 

attempt); but a horrible; fearful unrest and torment of 

conscience has been felt by many until the end。' Therefore; 

those who are not fit to lead a single life ought to contract 

matrimony。 For no man's law; no vow; can annul the commandment 

and ordinance of God。 For these reasons the priests teach that 

it is lawful for them to marry wives。  



It is also evident that in the ancient Church priests were 

married men。 For Paul says; 1 Tim。 3; 2; that a bishop should 

be chosen who is the husband of one wife。 And in Germany; four 

hundred years ago for the first time; the priests were 

violently compelled to lead a single life; who indeed offered 

such resistance that the Archbishop of Mayence; when about to 

publish the Pope's de
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