From this it is evident, that we cannot keep the law of God without faith, without Christ, without the Holy Ghost. For this reason also we assert, that the law must be kept, and that every believer begins to keep it, and increases more and more in the love and fear of God, which is fulfilling the commandments of God indeed. And when we speak of the keeping of the law, or of good works, we include both, the good heart internally and good works externally.

Wherefore, our adversaries do us wrong, in charging us with being silent on the subject of good works ; while we not only assert, that men must do good works, but also in particular point out, that the heart must be engaged therein, if they are not in vain, empty, cold, hypocritical works. Experience teaches, that although the hypocrites undertake to keep the law by their own strength, they are unable to do so, or to prove it by their deeds. For to what extent are they free from hatred, from envy, contention, rage, anger, avarice, adultery, &c.? Can greater vices be found any where, than in monasteries? Human nature is much too weak, by its own strength, to resist the devil, his artifices and power ; for he holds all those captive, who are not redeemed by Christ. Divine strength and the resurrection of Christ are necessary to overcome the devil. And since we know that we become participants of Christ’s strength and victory through faith, we can pray God, upon the promise given, to protect and govern us by his Spirit, that the devil may not over throw or ruin us ; else we shall constantly fall into error and abominable vices.

Paul therefore says, not of us, but of Christ, Eph. 4:8 : “He led captivity captive ;” for Christ conquered the devil, and promised the Holy Ghost through the Gospel, that by his assistance we may overcome every evil. And in 1 John 3:8, it is written : “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (Henkel Translation, p. 182-183).

And Paul remarks, 2 Cor. 3:15, 16, 17, that the veil which covers the face of Moses, cannot be removed, except by faith in Christ the Lord, through whom the Holy Spirit is imparted. For thus he says : “But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now, the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” By the veil Paul means the opinions and misconceptions of men relative to the Ten Commandments and the ceremonies ; namely, that the hypocrites suppose that the law can be kept and fulfilled by the observance of external works, and that the offerings and the various services of God, ex opere operato, justify us in the sight of God. But this veil is drawn from our hearts, that is, our false views are removed, when God reveals our wretchedness to our hearts, and makes us sensible of his wrath and our sins. Then do we first observe, how far we are from fulfilling the law, how securely and blindly all men continue to live, and how destitute they are of the fear of God ; in short, how far they are from believing, that God created heaven, earth, and all creatures, that he sustains our breath, our life, and all creation continually, and protects them against Satan.

Here we first learn, that unbelief, security, and contempt of God, are so deeply concealed in us. Here we first experience, that we believe very feebly or not at all, that God forgives sins, that he hears prayer, &c. When we now hear the Word and the Gospel, and know Christ through faith, we receive the Holy Spirit, and obtain proper views of God, fear and believe in him, &c.  (Henkel Translation, p. 181-182).

But our opponents are rude, indolent, and ignorant theologians. They consider only the second table of Moses and its works ; the first table, however, in which are embraced the chief doctrines of theology, and on which all depends, they disregard entirely. Yes, this most important, exalted, and holy commandment, which exceeds all the understanding of men and angels, which concerns the highest service to God, yea, the Deity himself and the honor of the Eternal Majesty, and in which God commands us, sincerely to regard, fear, and love him, as our Lord and God, is treated by them as if it did not even belong to theology.

But Christ is given to us, that our sins may be forgiven and the Holy Spirit imparted to us, for his sake. This Spirit works new light, immortal life, and eternal righteousness in us, in order to manifest Christ in our hearts, as we find, John 16:14 : “For he shall receive of mine, and show it unto you.” He works other graces also, love, thanksgiving, chastity, patience, &c. No one is able, therefore, to fulfil the law without the Holy Ghost ; for this reason Paul says : “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid : yea, we establish the law,” Rom. 3:31 ; for we cannot fulfil and keep the law, until the Holy Spirit is given to us. (Henkel Translation, p. 181).

These things cannot take place, before we are justified by faith and born anew through the Holy Spirit ; because, in the first place, no one can keep the law, without the knowledge of Christ, nor can any one fulfil the law, without the Holy Spirit. But we cannot receive the Holy Ghost, except through faith, as Paul says to the Galatians 3:14 : “That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

It is, moreover, impossible for the human heart to love God by the agency of the law or works alone. The law manifests nothing but the wrath and severity of God, it accuses us, and shows how fearfully he will chastise sin with punishments both temporal and eternal. Hence, what the scholastics teach concerning the love of God, is a wild conceit ; it being impossible to love God, before we know and embrace his mercy through faith. Then only does God become (objectum amabile) object amiable, lovely.

Although reason may, to some extent enable us, by its innate light, to lead an honest life, and to perform the external works of the law, without Christ and the Holy Spirit, yet it is true, as we stated above, the principal parts of the divine law, that is, turning the whole heart to God, and reverencing him sincerely, (as required in the first table, and in the first and highest commandment,) cannot be kept without the Holy Spirit. (Henkel Translation, p. 180-181).

III.—OF LOVE AND THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW. On this point our opponents meet us with the declarations, Matt. 19:17 : “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments ;” and Rom. 2:13 : “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified ;” besides many similar passages, relative to the law and to works. Before we reply to this, it is necessary for us to state our views concerning love and the fulfilment of the law.

It is written in the Prophet Jer. 31:33 : “I will put my law in their inward parts ;” and Rom. 3:31, Paul says : “Do we then make void the law through faith ? God forbid : yea, we establish the law.” Again, Christ says, Matt. 19:17 : “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Paul also says to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 13:3 : “If I have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” These and similar passages show that we must keep the law, when we are justified by faith, and thus increase more and more in the Spirit. We are not, however speaking of the Mosaic ceremonies, but the Ten Commandments, which require us to fear and love God truly, from the bottom of our hearts. Now, since faith is accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and produces in the heart a new light and life, it is true, and necessarily follows, that faith renews and changes the heart. What kind of a renovation of the heart this is, we learn from the Prophet, when he says : “I will put my law in their inward parts.”

Accordingly, when we are born anew by faith, and know, that God will be merciful to us, and be our father and our helper, we begin to fear, love, thank, and praise him, to entreat and look to him for assistance, and to submit to his will in afflictions ; then we also being to love our neighbor. Then there is, within us a new heart, mind, and soul, through the Spirit of Christ.

(Henkel Translation, p. 180).