Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/325

59* many, but rather all the more strengthened. And so it is always sufficient. FurthemoreFurthermore [sic], the sufficiency of Christ's law was not exhausted by the behavior of rebellious people in the original holy Church; on the contrary, it was always adequate to convert multitudes to the apostolic life and no one can be converted except through this law. Therefore, if the law was sufficient to convert unbelievers to faith, it is all the more adequate to reform life and morals as this is much easier. For this reason the law of Christ was sufficient in itself to establish as well as to maintain the whole church of God in every material and spiritual aspect. And the rule of Christ's religion is better than the rule of human admixtures. Who then, will deny that the bride of Christ is more perfect and according to the law of God, than were she nurtured by the admixtures of human laws which are as poison? Life in God is secure, but if human laws are mixed with it, divine laws become unintelligible, and men finally abandon them. Christ has commanded his bride to keep this law under the penalty of mortal sin; that means, she cannot abandon him or otherwise abolish (his laws) without committing mortal sin.