sins--this thing they call plain
injury to the passion of Christ, by which alone our sins are
forgiven freely without any recompense of our own. And they say
that those who would do penance for their own sins look to be
their own Christs, and pay their own ransoms, and save their souls
themselves. And with these reasons in Saxony many cast fasting
off, and all other bodily affliction, save only where need
requireth to bring the body to temperance. For no other good, they
say, can it do to ourselves, and then to our neighbour can it do
none at all. And therefore they condemn it for superstitious
folly. Now, heaviness of heart and weeping for our sins, this
they reckon shame almost, and womanish childishness--howbeit, God
be thanked, their women wax there now so mannish that they are not
so childish, nor so poor of spirit, but what they can sin on as
men do and be neither afraid nor ashamed nor weep for their sins at
all.

And surely, mine uncle, I have marvelled the less ever since I
heard the manner of their preachers there. For, as you remember,
when I was in Saxony these matters were (in a manner) but in a
mammering. Luther was not then wedded yet, nor religious men out
of their habits, but those that would be of the sect were suffered
freely to preach what they would unto the people. And forsooth I
heard a religious man there myself--one that had been reputed and
taken for very good, and who, as far as the folk perceived, was of
his own living somewhat austere and sharp. But his preaching was
wonderful! Methinketh I hear him yet, his voice so loud and
shrill, his learning less than mean. But whereas his matter was
much part against fasting and all affliction for any penance,
which he called men's inventions, he ever cried out upon them to
keep well the laws of Christ, let go their childish penance, and
purpose then to mend and seek nothing to salvation but the death
of Christ. "For he is our justice, and he is our Saviour and our
whole satisfaction for all our deadly sins. He did full penance
for us all upon his painful cross, he washed us there all clean
with the water of his sweet side, and brought us out of the
devil's danger with his dear precious blood. Leave therefore,
leave, I beseech you, these inventions of men, your foolish Lenten
fasts and your childish penance! Diminish never Christ's thanks
nor look to save yourselves! It is Christ's death, I tell you,
that must save us all--Christ's death, I tell you