Translating the Apology of the Augsburg Confession: (Art. III) De Dilectione et Impletione Legis (ii)

Quamquam igitur civilia opera, hoc est, externa opera legis, sine Christo et sine Spiritu Sancto aliqua ex parte fieri possint, tamen apparet ex his, quae diximus:[1] illa, quae sunt proprie legis divinae, hoc est, affectus cordis erga Deum, qui praecipiuntur in prima tabula, non posse fieri sine Spiritu Sancto. Sed adversarii nostri sunt suaves theologi; intuentur secundam tabulam et politica opera, primam nihil curant, quasi nihil pertineat ad rem, aut certe tantum externos cultus requirunt. Illam[2] aeternam legem et longe positam supra omnium creaturarum sensum atque intellectum, Deut. 6, 5: Diliges Dominum Deum tuum ex toto corde, prorsus non considerant.

At Christus ad hoc datus est, ut[3] propter eum donentur nobis remissio peccatorum et Spiritus Sanctus, qui novam et aeternam vitam ac aeternam iustitiam in nobis pariat. Quare non potest lex vere fieri nisi accepto Spiritu Sancto per fidem. Ideo Paulus dicit, legem stabiliri per fidem, non aboleri; quia lex ita demum fieri potest, quum contingit Spiritus Sanctus.

Et Paulus docet 2 Cor. 3, 15 sq.: Velamen, quo facies Mosis tecta est, non posse tolli nisi fide in Christum, qua accipitur Spiritus Sanctus. Sic enim ait: Sed usque in hodiernum diem, quum legitur Moses, velamen positum est super cor eorum; quum autem conversi fuerint ad Deum, auferetur velamen. Dominus autem Spiritus est; ubi autem Spiritus Domini, ibi libertas.

Velamen intelligit Paulus[4] humanam opinionem de tota lege, Decalogo et ceremoniis, videlicet quod hypocritae putant[5] externa et civilia opera satisfacere legi Dei, et sacrificia et cultus ex opere operato iustificare coram Deo.

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[1] Introduces an extensive indirect statement whose accusative subject is affectus and whose infinitive main verb is posse

[2] Illam…intellectum is an indirect statement introduced by considerant where positam [esse] is the infinitive main verb

[3] A purpose clause

[4] Paul understands the veil to be…

[5] Introduces an indirect statement

Vocabulary
Affectus, us, m.- affection, passion, love; disposition, condition	Libertas, libertatis, f.- liberty, freedom
Converto, ere, converti, conversus- to convert	Politicus, a, um- political
Creatura, ae, f.- creature	Suavis, e- agreeable; pleasant; sweet; charming, smooth
Hodiernus, a, um- today’s, of today; present	Usque (adv.)- all the way
Intellectus, us, m.- understanding, comprehension; intellect	Velamen, velaminis, n.- veil; covering

Therefore, although civil works, that is external works of the law, without Christ and without the Holy Spirit are able to be done from another part, what we have said, nevertheless, appears from these things: those things, which are properly of the divine law, that is affections of the heart toward God, which are taught in the first table, are not able to be done without the Holy Spirit. But our adversaries are smooth theologians; they admire the second table and political works , and they do not care about the first table as if it does not pertain to the matter or certainly requires only external worship. They do not entirely consider the eternal law placed far above the sense and understanding of all creatures when Deuteronomy teaches, “You will love the Lord Your God with your whole heart.”

But Christ has been given for this so that on account of Him the forgiveness of sins and Holy Spirit, who produces a new and eternal life and eternal righteousness in us, are given to us. Wherefore the law is not truly able to be done except by the Holy Spirit accepted by faith. For that reason Paul says, “the law is strengthened through faith, not abolished” because the law in this manner is finally able to be done when it is connected with the Holy Spirit.

And Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 3:15 and following, “The veil, by which the face of Moses was covered, is not able to be removed except through faith, by which the Holy Spirit is accepted, in Christ.” For he says, ‘But all the way to the present day, when Moses is read, the veil is placed above their heart; when they have been converted to God, the veil will be removed. However, the Lord is the Spirit; where, moreover, the Spirit of the Lord is, there there is liberty.”

Paul understands the veil to be the human opinion about the whole law, the Decalogue and the ceremonies, such as that hypocrites think that external and civil works satisfy the law of God and that sacrifices  and worship, by the work which is done, justifies before God.

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