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 Appendix, page 164.