Reding had at length succeeded in throwing that dull tea-table into a state of great excitement. Freeborn was puzzled in his turn. All the good comes afterwards, you said. You said that its fruits were holy, but that it was nothing at all itself. There was a momentary silence, and some agitation of thought.
Holiness introduces self-righteousness.
Faith is peace and joy, but it is not holiness. This is Luther's great doctrine in his 'Commentary' on the Galatians. Luther could not have meant what you say, I am convinced. The paper was handed round in solemn silence. It is a question of words between Luther and Melancthon.