From Loy, Matthias. The
Augsburg confession: An Introduction To Its Study And An
Exposition Of Its Contents Columbus, Ohio: Lutheran Book
Concern, 1908.
So little do they
[Zwinglians and Calvinists] value the contention for the faith
once delivered to the saints, that they make a practice of
sneering at “sound doctrine,” which the Holy Spirit urges upon
us as our safeguard against the wiles of the devil in his
schemes to ruin souls. This has become so habitual with them,
that the adoption of their practice may be regarded as a not
uncertain sign of the Reformed spirit and thought, by whatever
name those who follow them may choose to be called. They
lay the main stress upon the life, overlooking the fact that
the soul’s life is not determined by precepts of the law.
If a person is a
Christian, he will live a Christian life notwithstanding all the
imperfections attaching to his individuality; if he is not a
Christian, his life will not accord with the rule of right as
set forth in the divine law, notwithstanding all his
punctiliousness in the endeavor to observe it to the very
letter. It is the truth of the Gospel, which works faith and
regenerates the soul, that makes us free from the bondage of
sin, and only by the preservation of this truth can true
righteousness of life be established and fostered.
