The Varieties of Religious Experience - Penn State University

The Varieties of Religious Experiencesin, for thou hast flesh; thou shalt therefore feel the battle thereof.’ Iremember that Staupitz was wont to say, ‘I have vowed unto Godabove a thousand times that I would become a better man: but Inever performed that which I vowed. Hereafter I will make no suchvow: for I have now learned by experience that I am not able toperform it. Unless, therefore, God be favorable and merciful untome for Christ’s sake, I shall not be able, with all my vows and all mygood deeds, to stand before him.’ This (of Staupitz’s) was not only atrue, but also a godly and a holy desperation; and this must they allconfess, both with mouth and heart, who will be saved. For thegodly trust not to their own righteousness. They look unto Christtheir reconciler who gave his life for their sins. Moreover, they knowthat the remnant of sin which is in their flesh is not laid to theircharge, but freely pardoned. Notwithstanding, in the mean whilethey fight in spirit against the flesh, lest they should fulfill the luststhereof; and although they feel the flesh to rage and rebel, and themselvesalso do fall sometimes into sin through infirmity, yet are theynot discouraged, nor think therefore that their state and kind oflife, and the works which are done according to their calling, displeaseGod; but they raise up themselves by faith.”67One of the heresies for which the Jesuits got that spiritual genius,Molinos, the founder of Quietism, so abominably condemned washis healthy-minded opinion of repentance:—“When thou fallest into a fault, in what matter soever it be do nottrouble nor afflict thyself for it. For they are effects of our frail Nature,stained by Original Sin. The common enemy will make theebelieve, as soon as thou fallest into any fault, that thou walkest inerror, and therefore art out of God and his favor, and herewith wouldhe make thee distrust of the divine Grace, telling thee of thy misery,and making a giant of it; and putting it into thy head that every daythy soul grows worse instead of better, whilst it so often repeatsthese failings. O blessed Soul, open thine eyes; and shut the gateagainst these diabolical suggestions, knowing thy misery, and trustingin the mercy divine. Would not he be a mere fool who, runningat tournament with others, and falling in the best of the career,67 Commentary on Galatians, Philadelphia, 1891, pp. 510-514 (abridged).122