28. Unless the New Church be raised up by the Lord no one can be saved; and this is meant by these words, "Except those days be shortened there shall no flesh be saved." (Matt. 24:2) [Brief Exposition, n. 91.] The reason is, because the old church is founded upon justification by faith alone, and this, upon the idea of three Gods. Hence is all blindness and stupidity, unconcern, and the destruction of religion, so that scarcely anyone thinks about salvation. They who are skilled in these matters think nothing of the salvation of their own souls, or of the souls of their hearers. The Reformed understand works of the intellect and not of the will, thus passive and not active works.