|
Articles of Faith
1. OF FAITH IN THE HOLY TRINITY
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body
or parts, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the maker and
preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity
of this God-head, there are three persons of one substance, power
and eternity; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
2. OF THE WORD OR SON OF GOD, WHO WAS MADE VERY MAN
The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal
God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the
womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures,
that is to say, the God-head and manhood, were joined together in
one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God
and very man, who suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to
reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for
original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.
3. OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Christ did truly rise from the dead, and took again his body
with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature,
wherewith he ascended into heaven, and sitteth until he returns to
judge all men at last day.
4. OF THE HOLY GHOST
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of
one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very
and eternal God.
5. THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR SALVATION
The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation;
so that whatever 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 faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to
salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand
those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose
authority was never any doubt in the Church.
The Names of the Canonical Books:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
The First Book of Samuel
The Second Book of Samuel
The First Book of Kings
The Second Book of Kings |
The First Book of Chronicles
The Second Book of Chronicles
The Book of Ezra
The Book of Nehemiah
The Book of Esther
The Book of Job
The Book of Psalms
The Proverbs
Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher
Cantica, or Songs of Solomon
Four Prophets, the Greater
Twelve Prophets, the Lesser |
All the books of the New Testamemt as they are commonly
received, we do receive and account canonical.
6. OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the
Old and the 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 did look only for transitory promises. Although the
law given from God by Moses, as touching ceremonies and rites, doth
not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of
necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no
Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the
Commandments, which are called moral.
7. OF ORIGINAL OR BIRTH SIN
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the
Pelagians do vainly talk) but it is the corruption of the nature of
every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam,
whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of
his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.
8. OF FREE WILL
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he
cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and
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 preventing us, that we may have a good will, and
working with us, when we have that good will.
9. OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN
We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by faith, and not by our own works
or deservings; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a
most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
10. OF GOOD WORKS
Although good works, which are the fruit of faith, and follow
after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the
severity of God's judgments: yet are they pleasing and acceptable
to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith,
insomuch that they by them a lively faith may be as evidently
known, as a tree is discerned by its fruit.
11. OF WORKS OF SUPEREROGATION
Voluntary works, besides, over and above God's Commandments,
which they call works of supererogation, cannot be taught without
arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do 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 said plainly," When ye have done all that is commanded you,
say, we are unprofitable servants."
12. OF SIN AFTER JUSTIFICATION
Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin
against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of
repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after
justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart
from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God, rise
again, and amend your lives. And therefore they are to be condemned
who say they can do no more sin as long as they live here; or deny
the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.
13. OF THE CHURCH
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men,
in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the sacraments duly
administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things
that of necessity are requisite to the same.
14. OF PURGATORY
The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping,
and adoration, as well as images, as of relics, and also
invocations of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and
grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant of the Word of
God.
15. OF SPEAKING IN THE CONGREGATION IN SUCH A TONGUE AS THE
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the
custom of the primitive Church, (to have public prayer in the
Church,) or to minister the Sacraments, in a tongue not understood
by the people.
16. OF THE SACRAMENTS
Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of
Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain signs of
grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work
invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and
confirm our faith in Him.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord, in the
Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.
Those five commonly called sacraments, that is to say,
Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony and Extreme Unction, are
not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel; being such as have
partly grown out of the corrupt following of the Apostles; and
partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have
not the like nature of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, because they
have not any visible sign, or ceremony ordained of God.
The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or
to be carried about; but that we should duly use them. And in such
only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or
operation; but they that received them unworthily, purchase to
themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith.
17. OF BAPTISM
Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of
difference; but it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new
birth. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the
church.
18. OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that
Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but
rather is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death;
insomuch, that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive
the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of
Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the
blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and
wine in the Supper of our Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but
is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the
nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many
superstitions.
The body of Christ is given, taken and eaten in the Supper, only
after a heavenly and spiritual manner. And the means whereby the
body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is faith.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is not by Christ's ordinance
reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped.
19. OF BOTH KINDS
The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people: for
both parents of the Lord's Supper, by Christ's ordinance and
commandment, ought to administered to all Christians alike.
20. OF THE ONE OBLATION OF CHRIST, FINISHED UPON THE CROSS
The offering of Christ once made, is that perfect redemption,
propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world,
both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for
sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacraments of masses, in which it
is commonly said that that priest doth offer Christ for the quick
and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous
fable, and dangerous deceit.
21. OF THE MARRIAGE OF MINISTERS
The ministers of Christ are not commanded by God's law either to
vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage;
therefore, it is lawful for them, as for all other Christians, to
marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to
serve best to godliness.
22. OF THE RITES AND CEREMONIES OF CHURCHES
It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all
places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always
different, and may be changed according to the diversity of
countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained
against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment,
willingly and purposely, doth openly break the rites and ceremonies
of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant of the
Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority,
ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as
one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and
woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.
Every particular Church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and
ceremonies so that all things may be done to edification.
23. OF THE RULERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The President, the Congress, the General Assemblies, the
Governors, and the Councils of State, as the delegates of the
people, are the rulers of the United States of America, according
to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the
United States, and by the constitution of their respective states
and the Councils of States delegates of the people, are the rulers
of the United States of America, and by the Constitutions of their
respective States. And the said states are a sovereign and
independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign
jurisdiction.
24. OF CHRISTIAN MEN'S GOODS
The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching
the right, title and possession of the same, as some do falsely
boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he
possesseth, liberally, to give alms to the poor, according to his
ability.
25. OF A CHRISTIAN MAN'S OATH
As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian
men by our Lord, Jesus Christ and James, His apostle: so we judge
that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may
swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and
charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in
justice, judgment, and truth.
|
|
