I will not allege testimonies out of the law and the prophets, (although they exist there in large abundance,) but only from the writings of the evangelists and apostles, which teach with one accord that unto them that believe sins are forgiven freely for Christ’s sake. The Baptist, our Lords forerunner, points the finger to the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and cries: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” For the apostle John has ᾿ ii. said: “The blood of the Son of God cleanseth us from all sin. For A he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Nay, the Lord Jesus himself tes- tifies of these things, and says: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in
[[ Psal. xxxviii. 2-4, 18; vi. 3, 6.] [2 Matt. xxvii. 3-5.] [ Rom. x. 17.]]
the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” The apostle Paul bears witness also, and says: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” For Peter said also: “To Christ give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Examples also of the free forgiveness of sins and acceptance into favour to those who believe in Christ, or are penitent, the scripture, and more especially the gospels, present us with without number. Of this sort are the cases of Matthew, Zaccheus, the woman which was a sinner, Peter, Paul, the dying thief on the cross, and many more. These things, therefore, let the faithful minister of Christ enforce in the church without ceasing, that no one may be swallowed up with sorrow, and stricken with conscience of sins, and pine away, and despair, and be lost. Let every one believe, that the heavenly Father is appeased toward him for the sake of the death, and righteousness, and redemption that is by Christ. For thus by faith only? is peace and tranquillity vouchsafed to troubled consciences.
And yet the faith, which believeth that our heavenly Father is appeased toward us for the sake of Christ, and will not any more punish us for the sins we have committed—the faith which calms our spirits and tranquillises our consciences—removes not all anxiety out of our bosoms, nor introduces a torpid slothfulness, but rather stirs us up to prayers and all godly dnties. Abraham believed God; but he did not on that account cease to pray: nay, the more surely he believed that he should receive the divine promises, the more fervently did he pray. David doubted not in the least that he should have of the Lord the thing he had promised him: yet notwithstanding he prayed without ceasing. Wherefore the people must carefully be instructed by us, not to give over pouring out supplications and prayers before the Lord, that he would have mercy upon us for Christ’s sake, and turn away his anger from us, and give and increase in us true faith, and ever rule us with his Spirit, and in a word deliver us from all evils both of our soul and body, and grant us peace and safety; and that to our princes and magistrates he would vouchsafe wisdom, prudence, courage, justice, and happiness. But in all these prayers the people must be careful, that they call on none other than God the Ifather alone through his well-beloved and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; that so they may not pray without faith and charity. For he that wavereth in his faith may not think that he shall receive anything. And he
sola fide, Lat.]
that bringeth his gift to the altar must first be reconciled to his brother, and then let him offer his gift, And let all be kept in the practice of prayer by that word of our Lord’s in the gospel: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seck, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him1!”
Holy Jeremiah, however, although he prayed at times for the Lord’s people fervently and continually, yet heard from the Lord this word: “Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. Seest thou not what they do in the city and in the field? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.” Wherefore no one will think, that the wrath of the Lord can be appeased with prayers only, however long or many, if yet we go on to provoke it daily by iniquities. Let us urge the people committed to our charge therefore, while they pray earnestly and without ceasing, to amend their evil manners also; that is, to lay aside covetousness, usury, pride, incest, adulteries, fornication, luxury, drunkenness, surfeiting, blasphemies, slandering, idolatry, superstition, ungodliness, anger, envy, wrong and venal judgment, blood-shedding, unjust and mercenary warfare3, and oppression and contempt of the poor; and to serve God in Christ with doing good, liberality, humility, modesty, chastity, continence, sobriety, fastings, blessing, thanksgiving, religion, godliness, tenderness, benevolence, judgment and justice, vindicating and care of the poor, faith, hope, charity, love of our country, obedience and heart, patience, and all other virtues. For most truly has Solomon, the wisest of men, said: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination?” Yet should we do all which is commanded us, still let us say, as the Lord has taught us in the gospel: “We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do:” believing however, that for the sake of Christ and for the
[[} Matt. vii. 7-11.] [3 Jer. vii. 16-18. ] [ See Vol. 1. page 277, note 3.] [ spiritu, Lat.] [5 Prov. xxviii. 9.] [6 Luke xvii. 10.]]
merits of Christ, and not for our own sake or our merits, we are pleasant and acceptable unto God the Father.
Finally, in addition to all this we need long-suffering, patience,