The Confutatio Pontificia | Page 4

with the
Catholic Church, that the fault of origin is truly sin, condemning and
bringing eternal death upon those who are not born again by baptism
and the Holy Ghost. For in this they properly condemn the Pelagians,
both modern and ancient, who have been long since condemned by the
Church. But the declaration of the article, that Original Sin is that men
are born without the fear of God and without trust in God, is to be
entirely rejected, since it is manifest to every Christian that to be
without the fear of God and without trust in God is rather the actual
guilt of an adult than the offence of a recently-born infant, which does
not possess as yet the full use of reason, as the Lord says "Your
children which had no knowledge between good and evil," Deut 1:39.
Moreover, the declaration is also rejected whereby they call the fault of
origin concupiscence, if they mean thereby that concupiscence is a sin
that remains sin in a child even after baptism. For the Apostolic See has
already condemned two articles of Martin Luther concerning sin
remaining in a child after baptism, and concerning the fomes of sin
hindering a soul from entering the kingdo of heaven. But if, according
to the opinion of St Augustine, they call the vice of origin
concupiscence, which in baptism ceases to be sin, this ought to be
accepted, since indeed according to the declaration of St. Paul, we are
all born children of wrath (Eph. 2:3), and in Adam we all have sinned

(Rom.5:12).
To Article III.
In the third article there is nothing to offend, since the entire
Confession agrees with the Apostles' Creed and the right rule of faith
-viz. the Son of God became incarnate, assumed human nature into the
unity of his person, was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered was
crucified, died, descended to hell, rose again on the third day, ascended
to heaven, and sat down at the right hand of the Father.
To Article IV
In the fourth article the condemnation of the Pelagians, who thought
that man can merit eternal life by his own powers without the grace of
God, is accepted as Catholic and in accordance with the ancient
councils, for the Holy Scriptures expressly testify to this. John the
Baptist says: "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from
heaven," John 3:27 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and comes down from the Father of lights," James l:17.
Therefore "our sufficiency is of God," 2 Cor 3:5. And Christ says: "No
man can come to me, Except the Father, which hath sent me, draw
him," John 6:44 And Paul: What hast thou that thou didst not receive?"
I Cor 4:7. For if any one should intend to disapprove of the merits that
men acquire by the assistance of divine grace, he would agree with the
Manichaeans rather than with the Catholic Church. For it is entirely
contrary to holy Scripture to deny that our works are meritorious. For
St. Paul says "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at
that day," 2 Tim. 4:7 & 8. And to the Corinthians he wrote "We must
all appear before the judgmen-seat of Christ, that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad," 2 Cor. 5:10. For where there are wages
there is merit. The Lord said to Abraham: "Fear not, Abraham, I am thy
shield and thy exceeding great reward," Gen 15:l. And Isaiah says:
"Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him," Isa. 40:10;
and, chapter 58:7, 8: "Deal they bread to the hungry, and thy
righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall go before
thee; the glory of the Lord shall gather thee up." So too the Lord to
Cain: "If thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted?" Gen. 4:7. So the

parable in the Gospel declares that we have been hired for the Lord's
vineyard, who agrees with us for a penny a day, and says: "Ca11 the
laborers and give them their hire," Matt 20:8. So Paul, knowing the
mysteries of God, says: "Every man shall receive his own reward,
according to his own labor," I Cor. 3:8. 6. Nevertheless, all Catholics
confess that our works of themselves have no merit, but that God's
grace makes them worthy of eternal life. Thus St. John says: "They
shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy," Rev. 3:4. And St
Paul says