If the author had followed the New Testament teachings of early Christianity, Everyman would have prayed to God directly for mercy and for healing from good deeds. Additionally, Everyman receives the last rites from the priest before the encounter with death. This act of salvation seems to have been accomplished without mentioning Jesus' death on the cross or his resurrection. It does not teach the New Testament doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Good deeds are presented as a vital key to salvation whereas early Christian teachings of this era would have encouraged good works as a demonstration of the work of and through Christ in a person's body.