r
hypocrites].

On the other hand, if certain sectarists would arise, some of
whom are perhaps already extant, and in the time of the
insurrection [of the peasants] came to my own view, holding
that all those who had once received the Spirit or the
forgiveness of sins, or had become believers, even though they
should afterwards sin, would still remain in the faith, and
such sin would not harm them, and [hence] crying thus: "Do
whatever you please; if you believe, it all amounts to
nothing; faith blots out all sins," etc.--they say, besides,
that if any one sins after he has received faith and the
Spirit, he never truly had the Spirit and faith: I have had
before me [seen and heard] many such insane men, and I fear
that in some such a devil is still remaining [hiding and
dwelling].

It is, accordingly, necessary to know and to teach that when
holy men, still having and feeling original sin, also daily
repenting of and striving with it, happen to fall into
manifest sins, as David into adultery, murder, and blasphemy,
that then faith and the Holy Ghost has departed from them
[they cast out faith and the Holy Ghost]. For the Holy Ghost
does not permit sin to have dominion, to gain the upper hand
so as to be accomplished, but represses and restrains it so
that it must not do what it wishes. But if it does what it
wishes, the Holy Ghost and faith are [certainly] not present.
For St. John says, 1 Ep. 3, 9: Whosoever is born of God doth
not commit sin,... and he cannot sin. And yet it is also the
truth when the same St. John says, 1 Ep. 1, 8: If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in
us.

IV. Of the Gospel.

We will now return to the Gospel, which not merely in one way
gives us counsel and aid against sin; for God is
superabundantly rich [and liberal] in His grace [and
goodness]. First, through the spoken Word by which the
forgiveness of sins is preached [He commands to be preached]
in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the
Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy
Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the
keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation
of brethren, Matt. 18, 20: Where two or three are gathered
together, etc.

V. Of Baptism.

Baptism is nothing else than the Word of God in the water,
commanded by His institution, or, as Paul says, a washing in
the Word; as also Augustine says: Let the Word come