iptures are false, for that would have worked quite against
them,--but these names, God, Christ, faith, church, baptism,
sacrament, they shall still hold, and suffer to continue. But under
these names they bring forward and set up something of another sort.
For there is a great difference, whether I say this man preaches
against this doctrine or in accordance with it. When I preach thus,
that Christ is the Son of God and truly man, and whoever believes on
Him shall be saved,--that is right preaching and the true Gospel. But
if one preaches that Christ is not the Son of God, nor truly man,
moreover that faith does not save, it is said in plain contradiction
to it. Whence St. Peter speaks not (for this is what our high
schools, priests and monks do not attempt), except of those associate
doctrines which they introduce through the true doctrine. As when
they speak after this manner,--it is true that Christ was God, and is
man; that He died for our sins, and no one can be saved who does not
believe upon Him. But that belongs only to the common estate (of
Christians); but we will set up a more complete one, in which men
shall vow chastity, poverty, and obedience, as well as fast, endow
institutions, &c. Whoever does this shall go full tide up to heaven.
Where now men preach and hear such things as that there is nothing
better and more saving than virginity and obedience, and that the
monk and the priest are in a higher and more perfect estate than
mankind in general, there is nothing said against the pure christian
doctrine directly, nor are faith and baptism denied, nor that Christ
is the Saviour. But yet there is such doctrine brought in with them,
leading men away from the right path, that they build upon their own
life and works, and hold nothing more in regard to Christ, but just
these words: we believe that Christ is the Son of God, and man; that
He died and rose again; that He is the Saviour of the world, &c. But
they repose no faith in Him, for if they did that, they would not
rest an hour upon their life.

Thus they have also preached and said among the people: "Ye are
Christians already, but that is not enough; ye must also do such and
such works, build churches and cloisters, found masses and vigils,"
&c.

The great multitude has tumbled into this notion, and thought it was
right. Hereby Christendom is divided and separated into as many
sects, almost, as there are states and people.

But this is what men shoul