The Confutatio Pontificia | Page 6

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before circumcision. For how could Ambrose speak differently in his
comments from St. Paul in the text when he says: "Therefore by the
deeds of the law there shall no flesh he justified in his sight?" Therefore,
finally, he does not exclude faith absolutely, but says: "We conclude
that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
To Article VII.
The seventh article of the Confession, wherein it is affirmed that the
Church is the congregation of saints, cannot be admitted without
prejudice to faith if by this definition the wicked and sinners be
separated from the Church. For in the Council of Constance this article
was condemned among the articles of John Huss of cursed memory,
and it plainly contradicts the Gospel. For there we read that John the
Baptist compared the Church to a threshing-floor, which Christ will
cleanse with his fan, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but will
burn the chaff with unquenchable fire, Matt. 3:12. Wherefore this
article of the Confession is in no way accepted. although we read in it
their confession that the Church is perpetual, since here the promise of
Christ has its place, who promises that the Spirit of truth will abide
with it forever John 14:16. And Christ himself promises that he will be
with the church alway unto the end of the world. They are praised also,
in that they do not regard variety of rites as separating unity of faith, if
they speak of special rites. For to this effect Jerome says: "Every
province abounds in its own sense" (of propriety). But if they extend
this part of the Confession to universal Church rites, tis also must be
utterly rejected, and we must say with St. Paul: "We have no such
custom," 1 Cor. 11:16. "For by all believers universal rites must be
observed," St. Augustine, whose testimony they also use, well taught of
Januarius; for we must presume that such rites were transmitted from
the apostles.
To Article VIII.
The eighth article of the Confession, concerning wicked ministers of
the Church and hypocrites - viz. that their wickedness does not injure
the sacraments and the Word - is accepted with the Holy Roman
Church, and the princes commend it, condemning on this topic the
Donatists and the ancient Origenists, who maintained that it was
unlawful to use the ministry of the wicked in the Church - a heresy

which the Waldenses and Poor of Lyons revived. Afterwards John
Wicliff in England and John Huss in Bohemia adopted this.
To Article IX.
The ninth article, concerning Baptism - viz. that it is necessary to
salvation, and that children ought to be baptized - is approved and
accepted, and they are right in condemning the Anabaptists, a most
seditious class of men that ought to be banished far from the boundaries
of the Roman Empire in order that illustrious Germany may not suffer
again such a destructive and sanguinary commotion as she experienced
five tears ago in the slaughter of so many thousands.

To Article X.
The tenth article gives no offense in its words, because they confess
that in the Eucharist, after the consecration lawfully made, the Body
and Blood of Christ are substantially and truly present, if only they
believe that the entire Christ is present under each form, so that the
Blood of Christ is no less present under the form of bread by
concomitance than it is under the form of the wine, and the reverse.
Otherwise, in the Eucharist the Body of Christ is dead and bloodless,
contrary to St. Paul, because "Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth
no more," Rom. 6:9. One matter is added as very necessary to the
article of the Confession - viz. that they believe the Church, rather than
some teaching otherwise and incorrectly, that by the almighty Word of
God in the consecration of the Eucharist the substance of the bread is
changed into the Body of Christ. For thus in a general council it has
been determined, canon Firmiter, concerning the exalted Trinity, and
the Catholic faith. They are praised therefor, for condemning the
Capernaites, who deny the truth of the Body and Blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
To Article XI.
The eleventh article their acknowledgment that private absolution with
confession should be retained in the Church is accepted as catholic and
in harmony with our faith, because absolution is supported by the word
of Christ. For Christ says to his apostles, John 20:23: "Whosoever sins
ye remit, they are remitted unto them."Nevertheless, two things must
here be required of them: one, that they compel an annual confession to
be observed by their subjects, according to the constitution, canon

Omnis Utriusque, concerning penance and remission