yoke of that law, or that they cannot do what is commanded
because they cannot do anything good of themselves. Again, the Athanasian
Creed has been accepted throughout the Christian world and what is said
at its close is also acknowledged, namely, that the Lord will come to
judge the living and the dead, and then those who have done good will
enter everlasting life and those who have done evil will enter
everlasting fire.

[5] In Sweden, where the religion of faith alone has been received, it is
also plainly taught that faith is impossible apart from charity or good
works. This is pointed out in an Appendix on things to be remembered,
inserted in all copies of the Psalms, and called "Impediments or
Stumbling Blocks of the Impenitent" (Obotferdigas Foerhinder), where are
these words,

Those who are rich in good works thereby show that they are rich in
faith, because when faith is saving it acts through charity. For
justifying faith is never found alone and separate from good works, quite
as no good tree is without fruit, nor the sun without light and heat, nor
water without moisture.

[6] These items have been adduced to make known that although a religious
formula about faith alone has been accepted, nevertheless goods of
charity, which are good works, are taught everywhere and that this is by
the Lord's divine providence, lest the common people be led astray by the
formula. I have heard Luther, with whom I have spoken at times in the
spiritual world, execrate faith alone and heard him say that when he
established it he was warned by an angel of the Lord not to do it; but
that he thought to himself that if he did not reject works, separation
from Catholicism would not be accomplished. Therefore, contrary to the
warning, he established that faith.

259. _The merely natural man confirms himself against divine providence
in that there have been so many heresies in Christendom and still are,
such as Quakerism, Moravianism, Anabaptism, and more._ For he may think
to himself, If divine providence is universal in the least things and has
the salvation of all for its object, it would have seen to it that one
true religion should exist on the globe, not one divided and, still less,
one torn by heresies. But use reason and think more deeply if you can.
Can man be saved without being reformed first? For he is born into love
of self and the world, and as these loves do not have any love of God and
the neighbor in them except fo