BE81.令人惊讶的是，唯信称义这一教条在整个改教后的基督教中如此盛行，也就是说，它在那里一统天下，几乎是神圣规则所定，作为神学的一个且是唯一的要点。这是寻求牧职的所有学生在大学中渴望学习和吸收的东西，然后在众教会中如此教导，并印刷发表，宛如受到天上智慧的启发。他们通过如此行，寻求获得学问卓越的地位以及令人尊敬的名誉。他们由此获得了文凭，讲道的权柄，以及奖赏。这些事情就这么做成了，尽管如此，单单由于唯信称义之教条的缘故，日头如今变黑了，月亮也不放光，众星从天上坠落（是就是消灭了）。我已经清楚地知道，归算为义的信心之说已经蒙蔽使这个时代人们的心智，以至于他们不想，因而仿佛他们不能在阳光或月光下看到任何神性真理，只能在夜晚的火光中观看。因此，我可以预见，倘若关于義信相合、关于天、关于主和永生的神性之理从天降下来，即使用银字写成，那些高举唯信称义之说的人们都认为不值一读。但如果从地狱向他们传来关于唯信称义的一张纸，情况就截然不同了。据《协和信条》所说，关于唯信称义（或关于信仰的公义）的条款是全部基督徒教导的主要条款，律法的行为被完全排除在该条款之外（p.17，61，62，72，89，683，附录p.164）。
81. It is astonishing that the doctrine of justification by faith alone prevails at this day throughout the whole of Reformed Christianity that is, it reigns there as almost the one and only point of theology in the sacred Order. This is what all students for the ministry eagerly learn and imbibe at the colleges, and afterwards teach in the Churches, and publish in print, as if they were inspired with heavenly wisdom. In so doing they seek to acquire the reputation of superior learning and an honourable name. Because of this they are given diplomas, licences to preach, and rewards. These things are done, although it is owing to this doctrine alone that the sun at this day is darkened, the moon deprived of her light, and the stars have fallen from heaven, that is, have perished. It has been made clear to me that the doctrine of the faith of imputed righteousness has so blinded the minds of men in this age that they do not wish to, and therefore are as if they cannot, see any divine truth in the light of the sun, or in the light of the moon, but only in the light of a fire by night. Wherefore I can predict that if divine truths concerning the union of charity and faith, concerning heaven, the Lord and eternal happiness, were sent down from heaven, written in letters of silver, they would not be thought worthy to be read by these upholders of justification by faith alone. It would be quite otherwise if a paper concerning justification by faith alone were sent to them from hell. It is also said in the Formula Concordiae that the article concerning justification by faith alone, or concerning the righteousness of faith, is the chief article in the whole Christian doctrine, and that works of the Law are to be utterly excluded from this article; pages 17, 61-62, 72, 89, 683, and Appendix, page 164.
81. It is wonderful, that the doctrine of justification by faith alone prevails at this day over every other doctrine throughout the whole Reformed Christian world, and is esteemed in the sacred order almost as the only important point of theology. This is what all young students among the clergy greedily learn and imbibe at the universities, and what they afterwards teach in temples, and publish in books, as if they were inspired with heavenly wisdom, and whereby they endeavor to acquire to themselves a name, and the reputation of superior learning, as well as diplomas, licenses, and other honorary rewards.
And these things are done, notwithstanding it is owing to this doctrine alone, that the sun is at this day darkened, the moon deprived of her light, and the stars of the heavens have fallen, that is, have perished. It has been testified to me, that the doctrine of faith in imputed justice has blinded the minds of men at this day to such a degree, that they will not, and therefore as it were cannot, see any Divine truth by the light of the sun, nor by the light of the moon, but only by the light of a fireplace by night; on which account I will venture to assert, that supposing Divine truths concerning the conjunction of charity and faith, concerning heaven, the Lord, and eternal happiness, to be sent down from heaven engraven in silver characters, they would not be thought worthy to be read by the sticklers for justification; but the case would be quite otherwise supposing a paper concerning justification by faith alone to be brought up from hell. It is also said in the Formula Concordiae, that the article of justification by faith alone, or the justice of faith, is the chief article in the whole Christian doctrine; and that the works of the law are utterly to be excluded from this article (pp. 17, 61, 62, 72, 89, 683; Appendix, p. 164).
81. Mirabile est, quod Doctrina Justificationis per solam fidem, hodie in toto Christiano Reformato orbe omne punctum ferat, hoc est, illa ibi paene ut unicum Theologicum in Ordine sacro regnet; illa est, quam omnes Novitii e Clero in Gymnasiis avide addiscunt, et hauriunt, et postea sicut inspirati Caelesti Sapientia in Templis docent, libris vulgant, et per quam superioris eruditionis famam et nominis gloriam sectantur, et quoque propter quam diplomata, auctoramenta, et praemia donantur: et haec fiunt, tametsi per illam solam Doctrinam hodie obscuratus est Sol, lumine suo orbata est Luna, ac Stellae caelorum deciderunt, hoc est, perierunt: quod Doctrina fidei imputativae justitiae hodie occaecaverit mentes in tantum, ut non velint, et inde quasi non possint videre aliquod Divinum Verum in luce Solis, nec in luce Lunae, sed solum in luce foci noctu, testatum mihi factum est; quare possum vaticinari, quod si Divina Vera de Conjunctione charitatis et fidei, de Caelo, de Domino, de Felicitate aeterna inde, argenteis literis exarata e caelo demitterentur, a Justificatariis non lectu digna censerentur; at prorsus aliter si charta de Justificatione per solam fidem, ab inferis exportaretur. Legitur etiam in FORMULA CONCORDIAE, Quod Articulus de Justificatione per solam fidem seu de Justitia fidei, praecipuus sit in tota Doctrina Christiana: et quod Opera legis ex hoc Articulo prorsus excludenda sint, p. 17, 61, 62, 72, 89, 683, Append. p. 164.