For Peter speaks of works following the remission of sins, and
teaches why they should be done, namely, that the calling may be sure,
i.e., lest they may fall from their calling if they sin again. Do
good works that you may persevere in your calling, that you [do not
fall away again, grow cold and] may not lose the gifts of your
calling, which were given you before, and not on account of works
that follow, and which now are retained by faith, for faith does not
remain in those who lose the Holy Ghost, who reject repentance, just
as we have said above (p. 253) that faith exists in repentance.

They add other testimonies cohering no better. Lastly they say that
this opinion was condemned a thousand years before, in the time of
Augustine. This also is quite false. For the Church of Christ
always held that the remission of sins is obtained freely. Yea, the
Pelagians were condemned, who contended that grace is given on
account of our works. Besides, we have above shown sufficiently that
we hold that good works ought necessarily to follow faith. For we do
not make void the Law, says Paul, Rom. 3, 31; yea, we establish the
Law, because when by faith we have received the Holy Ghost, the
fulfilling of the Law necessarily follows, by which love, patience,
chastity, and other fruits of the Spirit gradually grow.




Part 26


The Twenty-first Article they absolutely condemn, because we do not
require the invocation of saints. Nor on any topic do they speak