Articles of Religion. THE I. THE HOLY TRINITY. HERE is but one living and true God, everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. THE II. THE WORD, OR SON OF GOD. HE Son, who is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the true and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature of the substance of the Virgin Mary so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, truly God, and truly Man; who suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. III. THE DEPARTURE OF CHRIST'S SPIRIT FROM THE BODY. S Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed that His spirit for a time departed from the body. IV. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. HRIST did truly rise again from death, and took again His body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's glorified nature, wherewith He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until He return to judge all men at the last day. THE HE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, true and eternal God. VI. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. OLY Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. By Holy Scripture we understand the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, namely: in the Old Testament, And in the New Testament The Gospel according to Matthew. The Epistle to the Colossians. Two Epistles to the Thessalonians. The Book of the Revelation of St. The Books commonly called "The Apocrypha," are not received as Canonical; and, therefore, should not be read in Churches, nor be used in establishing any doctrine. THE VII. THE OLD TESTAMENT, HE Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for, both in the Old and New Testament, everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers looked only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, does not bind Christian men, and the civil precepts thereof are not of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral. THE VIII. THE CREEDS. HE Creed of Nicæa, and that which is called the Apostles' Creed, ought to be received and believed; for they may be proved by Holy Scripture. IX. ORIGINAL OR BIRTH-SIN. RIGINAL sin standeth not in the following of Adam, but it is rally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is, of his own nature, inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore, in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's condemnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated; whereby the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God: and although there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence, or lust, hath of itself the nature of sin. X. FREE WILL. HE condition of man since the fall of Adam is such that he THE cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works, to faith and calling upon God: wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christ previously inclining us, that we may have a good will, and working with us when we have that good will. WE XI. THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN. E are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. XII. GOOD WORKS. LTHOUGH good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out, necessarily, of a true and living faith, insomuch that by them a living faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by the fruit. W WORKS XIII. BEFORE JUSTIFICATION. ORKS done before the grace of Christ and the gift of His Spirit are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ; neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or deserve grace of congruity. XIV. WORKS O F SUPEREROGATION. WORKS of Supererogation, or voluntary works over and above God's commandments, cannot be taught without arrogance and impiety. For by them men declare, that they not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for His sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. XV. CHRIST ALONE WITHOUT SIN. HRIST, in the truth of our nature, was made like unto us in all things, sin only excepted, from which He was clearly free, both in His flesh, and in His spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of Himself once made, should take away |
