The Smalcald Articles | Page 5

us and cause God not to be
gracious to us; for we do not repent, and, besides, wish to defend every
abomination.
O Lord Jesus Christ, do Thou Thyself convoke a Council, and deliver
Thy servants by Thy glorious advent! The Pope and his adherents are
done for; they will have none of Thee. Do Thou, then, help us, who are
poor and needy, who sigh to Thee, and beseech Thee earnestly,
according to the grace which Thou hast given us, through Thy Holy
Ghost who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Father, blessed
forever. Amen.
THE FIRST PART
Treats of the Sublime Articles Concerning the Divine Majesty, as:
I. That Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three distinct persons in one
divine essence and nature, are one God, who has created heaven and
earth.
II. That the Father is begotten of no one; the Son of the Father; the
Holy Ghost proceeds from Father and Son. III. That not the Father nor
the Holy Ghost but the Son became man.
IV. That the Son became man in this manner, that He was conceived,
without the cooperation of man, by the Holy Ghost, and was born of
the pure, holy [and always] Virgin Mary. Afterwards He suffered, died,
was buried, descended to hell, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven,
sits at the right hand of God, will come to judge the quick and the dead,
etc. as the Creed of the Apostles, as well as that of St. Athanasius, and
the Catechism in common use for children, teach.
Concerning these articles there is no contention or dispute, since we on
both sides confess them. Therefore it is not necessary now to treat

further of them.
THE SECOND PART
Treats of the Articles which Refer to the Office and Work of Jesus
Christ, or Our Redemption.
The first and chief article is this,
That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised
again for our justification, Rom. 4, 25.
And He alone is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the
world, John 1, 29; and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all, Is.
53, 6.
Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and
without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood, Rom. 3, 23 f.
Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise
acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and
certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3, 28: For
we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the
Law. Likewise v. 26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him
which believeth in Christ.
Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered [nor can anything
be granted or permitted contrary to the same], even though heaven and
earth, and whatever will not abide, should sink to ruin. For there is
none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be
saved, says Peter, Acts 4, 12. And with His stripes we are healed, Is. 53,
5. And upon this article all things depend which we teach and practice
in opposition to the Pope, the devil, and the [whole] world. Therefore,
we must be sure concerning this doctrine, and not doubt; for otherwise
all is lost, and the Pope and devil and all things gain the victory and suit
over us.

Article II: Of the Mass.
That the Mass in the Papacy must be the greatest and most horrible
abomination, as it directly and powerfully conflicts with this chief
article, and yet above and before all other popish idolatries it has been
the chief and most specious. For it has been held that this sacrifice or
work of the Mass, even though it be rendered by a wicked [and
abandoned] scoundrel, frees men from sins, both in this life and also in
purgatory, while only the Lamb of God shall and must do this, as has
been said above. Of this article nothing is to be surrendered or
conceded, because the first article does not allow it.
If, perchance, there were reasonable Papists we might speak moderately
and in a friendly way, thus: first, why they so rigidly uphold the Mass.
For it is but a pure invention of men, and has not been commanded by
God; and every invention of man we may [safely] discard, as Christ
declares, Matt. 15, 9: In vain do they worship Me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men.
Secondly. It is an unnecessary thing, which can be omitted without sin
and danger.
Thirdly. The Sacrament can be received in a better and