Preface.

Isaiah 2. Therefore, the prophet Isaiah also says that such work-reliant people—who seek the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and salvation in their own good works and merits—are idolaters Matthew 6. and worship the works of their hands.

Such work-reliant people were present in the time of Christ: the Pharisees. Therefore, the Lord Christ also condemned part of their praying, fasting, and almsgiving.

Such work-reliant people are also present in our time: the Papists. Therefore, following the example of Christ, we must curse and condemn through the Word of God their idolatrous and blasphemous praying, fasting, almsgiving, endowments, votive offerings, memorials, soul-baths liturgical acts for the deceased, vigils, requiem masses, pilgrimages, founding of churches and monasteries, living in celibacy, and whatever else is similar.

VIII. We do not forbid good works.

Concerning the eighth: And when we do this following the example of Christ, our adversaries, the Papists, think they have a good pretext and opportunity to cry out against us, "They forbid good works." To such clamor, we answer them that we have never forbidden right and proper good works, nor do we forbid them now. For we know and teach, God be praised, that man was originally created for good works and for obedience toward God and His commandments, as is evident from the commandment of God in Genesis 2.

So we also know and teach, God be praised, that man is redeemed by God through Christ precisely so that he may do good, and not so that he should cling to sins and shame, as Zacharias mentions in his song of praise.