Thus, in the Lord’s prayer, even the saints pray—“Forgive us our debts,” Matt.6:12; consequently they also are guilty and sinful. Again, Numb. 14:18: “The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgressions, and by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” Zachariah the prophet, 2:13, says: “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord;” and Isaiah 40:6: “All flesh is grass,”—that is, the flesh and all the righteousness of which we are capable, cannot bear the judgment of God. And we find, Jonah 2:8: “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” Wherefore mercy alone sustains us—our own works, merits, and power cannot help us.
These and similar declarations in the Scriptures, show that our works are impure, and that we need grace and mercy; therefore works do not afford the conscience peace, but mercy alone, which we apprehend through faith. (Henkel Translation, p. 188).