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1.
We believe and firmly maintain all that is contained in the twelve articles of the
symbol, commonly called the apostles' creed, and we regard as heretical
whatever is inconsistent with the said twelve articles. 3.
We acknowledge for sacred canonical Scriptures the books of the Holy Bible.
(Here follows the title of each, exactly conformable to our received canon, but
which it is deemed, on that account, quite unnecessary to particularize.) 4.
The books above-mentioned teach us-That there is one God, almighty, unbounded
in wisdom, and infinite in goodness, and who, in His goodness, has made all
things. For He created Adam after His own image and likeness. But through the
enmity of the devil, and his own disobedience, Adam fell, sin entered into the
world, and we became transgressors in and by Adam. 5.
That Christ had been promised to the fathers who received the law, to the end
that, knowing their sin by the law, and their unrighteousness and
insufficiency, they might desire the coming of Christ to make satisfaction for
their sins, and to accomplish the law by Himself. 6.
That at the time appointed of the Father, Christ was born-a time when iniquity
everywhere abounded, to make it manifest that it was not for the sake of any
good in ourselves, for all were sinners, but that He, who is true, might
display . His grace and mercy toward us. 7.
That Christ is our life, and truth, and peace, and righteousness-our Shepherd
and Advocate, our Sacrifice, and Priest, who died for the salvation of all who
should believe, and rose again for their justification. 8.
And we also firmly believe, that there is no other mediator, or advocate with
God the Father, but Jesus Christ. And as to the Virgin Mary, she was holy,
humble, and full of grace; and this we also believe concerning all other
saints, namely, that they are waiting in heaven for the resurrection of their
bodies at the day of judgment. 9.
We also believe, that, after this life, there are out two places--one for those
that are saved, the other for the damned, which (two) we call paradise and
hell, wholly denying that imaginary purgatory of Antichrist, invented in
opposition to the truth. 10.
Moreover, we have ever regarded all the inventions of men (in the affairs of
religion) as an unspeakable abomination before God; such as the festival days
and vigils of saints, and what is called holy-water, the abstaining from flesh
on certain days, and such like things, but above all, the masses. 11.
We hold in abhorrence all human inventions, as proceeding from Anti-Christ,
which produce distress, and are prejudicial to the liberty of the mind. 12.
We consider the Sacraments as signs of holy things, or as the visible emblems
of invisible blessings. We regard it as proper and even necessary that
believers use these symbols or visible forms when it can be done.
Notwithstanding which, we maintain that believers may be saved without these
signs, when they have neither place nor opportunity of observing them. 13. We acknowledge
no sacraments (as of divine appointment) but baptism and the Lord's Supper. 14. We honor the
secular powers, with subjection, obedience, promptitude, and payment. |