Even if reason is able to recite the Ten Commandments…

Even if reason is able to recite the Ten Commandments and is aware that we should not have other gods, it is still not smart enough to detect how corrupt human nature has become through its birth from Adam. Much less does reason know how we might reconcile God. Therefore reason is doubly blind here, saying: “If you have sinned, do penance and perform good works to redeem your sins. Become a monk or a nun; make God the triple vow of chastity, poverty, and obedience. In this way you not only render satisfaction to God for your own sins, but you will also have a supply of supererogatory works which you can transfer to others.” But you have not been commanded to suffer poverty or to render obedience to your prior. The pope asserts that you are privileged to be in a far loftier vocation than others; thereby he creates the idol of overweening reliance on your own righteousness and wisdom. The observance of those three vows from other motives might be commendable if it were not attended by two arrogant chaps—one of whom claims that he can render satisfaction to God’s commandments through good works, the other that he is able to keep these commandments. Both of them are liars. They are totally blind, for no human being can keep the Ten Commandments thoroughly and completely. This is evident from Christ’s sermon recorded in Matt. 5, where we read: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. These people thought they were keeping and fulfilling the Law by their external observances. It would be fine if they kept the Law. But the Ten Commandments are too high, human nature is too corrupt, and we are too polluted to be able to trust God with all our heart. In our trials and temptations wrath stunts our love, and impatience our meekness. Then our hidden imperfections appear. Therefore it betokens a great, harmful, and pernicious blindness when a man assumes that he can keep the Law.