#51 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.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).
