in, and finally do not know that
there is such a thing as sin. Then they hear and drink in with pleasure
that the law does not condemn them because a Christian is not under its
yoke. If only you say, "Have mercy on me, 0 God, for the sake of the
Son," you will be saved. This is repentance in their life. If, however,
you take away repentance, or what is the same thing, separate life from
religion, what is left except the words, "Have mercy on me"? They are
therefore sure to maintain that salvation is instantaneous, accomplished
by these words, even if uttered at the hour of death, if not before. What
does the Word become to them then but an obscure and cryptic utterance
issuing from a tripod in a cave, or like an incomprehensible response
from the oracle of an idol? In a word, if you remove repentance, that is,
sever life from religion, what is human nature then but evil aglow with
infernal fire or a flying fiery serpent in the church? For without
repentance man is in evil, and evil is hell.

[4] Second: _By the belief in instantaneous salvation out of pure mercy
alone security of life is induced._ Security of life arises either from
the belief of the impious man that there is no life after death, or from
the belief of one who separates life from salvation. Although the latter
may believe in eternal life, he still thinks, "whether I live rightly or
wickedly, I can be saved, for salvation is by outright mercy, and God's
mercy is universal, for He does not desire the death of anyone." If it
occurs to him that mercy should be implored in the words of the
traditional faith, he can think that this can be done, if not earlier,
just before death. Everyone who feels this security, makes light of
adultery, fraud, injustice, acts of violence, blasphemy and revenge, and
gives a free rein to body and spirit for committing all these evils; nor
does he know what spiritual evil, or the lust of evil, is. Should he hear
something about it from the Word, it is like something falling on ebony
and rebounding, or falling into a ditch and being swallowed up.

[5] Third: _By this belief condemnation is charged to the Lord._ If the
Lord can save anybody out of pure mercy, who is not going to conclude
that if man is not saved, it is not he but the Lord who is in fault? If
it is asserted that faith is the medium of salvation, what man cannot
have this faith? For it is only a thought, and this can be imparted,
along with confidence, in any state o