#66 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.Fourthly.—If we should maintain the doctrine, that, after we receive the Gospel and are regenerated, we must merit the continued favor of God by our works, and not through faith, our conscience could not be pacified, but must despair. For the law continually accuses us, because we are unable to keep it perfectly, as the universal, holy, Christian church, and all the saints have ever acknowledged, and still acknowledge. Thus Paul says, Rom. 7:19: “For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do,” &c. Again, verse 25: “With the flesh I serve the law of sin.” No one fears and loves God with his whole heart, as he is bound to do; no one bears the cross and affliction with entire submission to God; we all frequently doubt, in our weakness, whether God takes care of us, and regards us, and hears our prayers. We frequently murmur with impatience against God, when the ungodly prosper and the pious are afflicted. Again, who is it that performs his duty perfectly in his vocation, or who is not angry with God in temptations, when God withdraws himself? Who loves his neighbor as himself? Who is free from all manner of evil lusts? Of all these sins the Psalmist says, Psalm 32:6; “For this shall every one, that is godly, pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.” Here he tells us, that all the saints must pray for the remission of sins. (Henkel Translation, p. 189).
