Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Indeed, in temptation and in trials, when the mind is overwhelmed with fear and dread of the wrath of God, then certainly, in that consternation, faith does not conclude:  I have charity, virtues, and merits and on account of this worthiness God will receive me.  But faith points to and looks to the Son of God, who was made a sacrifice for us, now sitting at the right hand of the Father and making intercession for us.  To Him it flees, Him it seeks, in Him it believes, and it concludes that on account of this High Priest we are forgiveness and granted reconciliation, not because of our virtues and our worthiness.  And so faith sets against our sin and our damnation not our works and our own worthiness but the merit of Christ.  -- Blessed Martin Chemnitz, Examen I:576.