Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/393



The third feature with which the great priest has defiled faith and the Saviour consists in the fact that with the rich and haughty princely investiture he has arrogated to himself divine power, nay, the power of the Saviour himself, the power to forgive sins which is God's prerogative. He alone forgives all people, pardoning their iniquities; and Christ the Son of God died for the se iniquities. The witness of faith says that he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world – he alone has the right to forgive the sins of the world because he is both God and man. He died in the fashion of man, for sins, and gave himself up as a sacrifice to God, on the cross. Through himself and his pains he has bought forgiveness of sins for the world. Thus he alone has the right and power to forgive sins. Therefore the high priest, exalting himself in his monstrous pride above all that is called God, has seized Christ's prerogative by robbery. And this he manages lucratively, initiating a pilgrimage to Rome from all countries faithful to his banner, and proclaiming to all pilgrims forgiveness of all sins and Isa. 40:2.

John 1:29.

2-Thes. 2:4.