(1)  Eph. 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Deut.  6:4   Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
1 Tim. 2:5   For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Cor. 8:6   But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

(2)  John. 4:24   God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(3)  Isa. 40:28   Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

(4)  Rom. 11:33   O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

(5)  Rom. 1:20   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

(6)  Mal. 3:6    For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

(7)  Isa. 44:6   Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

(8)  1 Tim. 1:7   Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

(9)  Jer. 12:1   Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

(10)  Matt.  19:17   And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

(11)  Jas. 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.   
1 Chron. 29:10   Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
1 Chron. 29:11   Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
1 Chron. 29:12   Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

ARTICLE 2. 
By what means God is made known unto us

We know him by two means; first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe;(1) which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely His power and divinity, as the apostle Paul says, Rom. 1:20. All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, he makes himself more clearly fully known to us by his holy and divine Word,(2) that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to his glory and our salvation.

(1)  Psa  19:2   Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Eph  4:6   One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

(2)  Psa  19:8   The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.
1 Cor  12:6   And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

ARTICLE 3.
Of the written Word of God

We confess that this Word of God was not sent, nor delivered by the will of man, but that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, as the apostle Peter says (1). And that afterwards God, from a special care, which he has for us and our salvation, commanded his servants, the prophets (2) and apostles (3), to commit his revealed word to writing; and he himself wrote with his own finger, the two tables of the law(4). Therefore we call such writings holy and divine Scriptures.

We believe that the Holy Scriptures are contained in two books, namely, the Old and New Testament, which are canonical, against which nothing can be alleged. These are thus named in the Church of God. The books of the Old Testament are, the five books of Moses, viz.: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; the books of Joshua, Ruth, Judges, the two books of Samuel, the two of the Kings, two books of the Chronicles, commonly called Paralipomenon, the first of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, the Psalms of David, the three books of Solomon, namely, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs; the four great prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel; and the twelve lesser prophets, namely, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Those of the New Testament are the four evangelists, viz.: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles; the fourteen epistles of the apostle Paul, viz.: one to the Romans, two to the Corinthians, one to the Galatians, one to the Ephesians, one to the Philippians, one to the Colossians, two to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, one to Titus, one to Philemon, and one to the Hebrews; the seven epistles of the other apostles, namely, one of James, two of Peter, three of John, one of Jude; and the Revelation of the apostle John.

ARTICLE 5. 
From whence the Holy Scriptures derive their dignity and authority.

We receive all these books, and these only, as holy and canonical, for the regulation, foundation, and conformation of our faith; believing without any doubt, all things contained in them, not so much because the Church receives and approves them as such, but more especially because the Holy Ghost witnesses in our hearts, that they are from God, whereof they carry the evidence in themselves. For the very blind are able to perceive that the things foretold in them are fulfilling.

ARTICLE 6. 
The difference between the canonical and apocryphal books

We distinguish those sacred books from the apocryphal, viz.: the third book of Esdras, the books of Tobias, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Syrach, Baruch, the appendix to the book of Esther, the Song of the three Children in the Furnace, the history of Susannah, of Bell and the Dragon, the prayer of Manasses, and the two books of the Maccabees. All of which the Church may read and take instruction from, so far as they agree with the canonical books; but they are far from having such power and efficacy, as that we may from their testimony confirm any point of faith, or of the Christian religion; much less detract from the authority of the other sacred books.

ARTICLE 7. 
The sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, to be the only rule of faith.

We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe, unto salvation, is sufficiently taught 
therein (1). For, since the whole manner of worship, which God requires of us, is written in them at large, it is unlawful for any one, though an apostle, to teach otherwise (2) than we are now taught in the Holy Scriptures: nay, though it were an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says (3). For, since it is forbidden, to add unto or take away anything from the word of 
God (4), it does thereby evidently appear, that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects. Neither do we consider of equal value any writing of men, however holy these men may have been, with those divine Scriptures (5), nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God (6), for the truth is above all; for all men are of themselves liars (7), and more vain than vanity itself. Therefore, we reject with all our hearts, whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule (8), which the apostles have taught us, saying, Try the spirits whether they are of God (9). Likewise, if there come any unto you; and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house (10).

ARTICLE 8. 
That God is one in Essence, yet nevertheless distinguished in three Persons

According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is the one single essence (1), in which are three persons (2), really, truly, and eternally distinct, according to their incommunicable properties; namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost (3). The Father is the cause, origin and beginning of all things visible and invisible (4); the Son is the word (5), wisdom (6), and image of the Father (7); the Holy Ghost is the eternal power and might (8), proceeding from the Father and the Son (9). Nevertheless God is not by this distinction divided into three, since the Holy Scriptures teach us, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, have each his personality, distinguished by their properties; but in such wise that these three persons are but one only God. Hence then, it is evident, that the Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father, and likewise the Holy Ghost is neither the Father nor the Son. Nevertheless these persons thus distinguished are not divided, nor intermixed: for the Father has not assumed the flesh, nor has the Holy Ghost, but the Son only (10). The Father has never been without his Son, or without his Holy Ghost. For they are all three coeternal and co-essential. There is neither first nor last: for they are all three one, in truth, in power, in goodness, and in mercy.

All this we know, as well from the testimonies of holy writ, as from their operations, and chiefly by those we feel in ourselves. The testimonies of the Holy Scriptures, that teach us to believe this Holy Trinity are written in many places of the Old Testament, which are not so necessary to enumerate, as to choose them out with discretion and judgment. In Genesis, chap. 1:26, 27, God says: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, etc (1). So God created man in his own image, male and female created he them. And Gen. 3:22. Behold the man is become as one of us (2). From this saying, let us make man in our image, it appears that there are more persons than one in the Godhead; and when he says, God created, he signifies the unity. It is true he does not say how many persons there are, but that, which appears to us somewhat obscure in the Old Testament, is very plain in the New. For when our Lord was baptized in Jordan (3), the voice of the Father was heard, saying, This is my beloved Son: the Son was seen in the water, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the shape of a dove. This form is also instituted by Christ in the baptism of all believers. Baptize all nations, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (4). In the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel thus addressed Mary, the mother of our Lord, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God (5): likewise, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you (6). And there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one (7). In all which places we are fully taught, that there are three persons in one only divine essence. And although this doctrine far surpasses all human understanding, nevertheless, we now believe it by means of the Word of God, but expect hereafter to enjoy the perfect knowledge and benefit thereof in Heaven (8). Moreover, we must observe the particular offices and operations of these three persons towards us. The Father is called our Creator, by his power (9); the Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by his blood (10); the Holy Ghost is our Sanctifier, by his dwelling in our hearts (11). This doctrine of the Holy Trinity, has always been defended and maintained by the true Church, since the time of the apostles, to this very day, against the Jews, Mohammedans, and some false Christians and heretics, as Marcion, Manes, Praxeas, Sabellius, Samosatenus, Arius, and such like, who have been justly condemned by the orthodox fathers. Therefore, in this point, we do willingly receive the three creeds, namely, that of the Apostles, of Nice, and of Athanasius: likewise that, which, conformable thereunto, is agreed upon by the ancient fathers.

We believe that God created man out of the dust of the earth, and made and formed him after his own image and likeness (1), good, righteous, and holy, capable in all things to will, agreeably to the will of God (2). But being in honor, he understood it not, neither knew his excellency (3), but willfully subjected himself to sin, and consequently to death, and the curse, giving ear to the words of the devil (4). For the commandment of life, which he had received (5), he transgressed; and by sin separated himself from God (6, who was his true life, having corrupted his whole nature (7); whereby he made himself liable to corporal and spiritual death (8). And being thus become wicked, perverse, and corrupt in all his ways, he has lost all his excellent gifts, which he had received from God (9), and only retained a few remains thereof (10), which, however, are sufficient to leave man without excuse (11); for all the light which is in us is changed into darkness (12), as the Scriptures teach us, saying: The light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not (13): where St. John calls men darkness. Therefore we reject all that is taught repugnant to this, concerning the free will of man, since man is but a slave to sin (14), and has nothing of himself, unless it is given from heaven (15). For who may presume to boast, that he of himself can do any good, since Christ says, No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him (16)? Who will glory in his own will, who understands, that to be carnally minded is enmity against 
God (17)? Who can speak of his knowledge, since the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God (18)? In short, who dare suggest any thought, since he knows that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but that our sufficiency is of God (19)? And therefore what the apostle says ought justly to be held sure and firm, that God worked in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure (20). For there is no will nor understanding, conformable to the divine will and understanding, but that Christ has wrought in man; which he teaches us, when he says, Without me ye can do nothing (21).

(1) Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Eccl. 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Eph. 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(2) Gen. 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Eph. 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(3) Psa. 49:20  Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.  
Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

(4)Gen. 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Gen. 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

(5) Gen. 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Gen. 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

(6)Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

(7)Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

(8) Rom. 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Gen. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Gen. 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

(9)Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

(10) Acts 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

(11) Rom. 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom. 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

(12)Eph. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Matt. 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

(13) John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

(14) Isa. 26:12  LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
Psa. 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Rom. 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom. 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

(15) John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Isa. 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

(16)John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

(17) Rom. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

(18) 1 Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Psa 94:11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

(19) 2 Cor. 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

(20) Phil. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

(21) John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

ARTICLE 15. 
Of Original Sin

We believe that, through the disobedience of Adam, original sin is extended to all mankind (1); which is a corruption of the whole nature, and a hereditary disease, wherewith infants themselves are infected even in their mother's womb (2), and which produces in man all sorts of sin, being in him as a root thereof (3); and therefore is so vile and abominable in the sight of God, that it is sufficient to condemn all mankind (4). Nor is it by any means abolished or done away by baptism; since sin always issues forth from this woeful source, as water from a fountain; notwithstanding it is not imputed to the children of God unto condemnation, but by his grace and mercy is forgiven them. Not that they should rest securely in sin, but that a sense of this corruption should make believers often to sigh, desiring to be delivered from this body of death (5). Wherefore we reject the error of the Pelagians, who assert that sin proceeds only from imitation.

(1)Rom.5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Rom.5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Psa. 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Gen. 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

(2) Isa. 48:8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
Rom.5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

(3) Gal. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Rom. 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Rom. 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom. 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom. 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

(4) Eph. 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph. 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

(5) Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom. 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

ARTICLE 16. 
Of Eternal Election

We believe that all the posterity of Adam being thus fallen into perdition and ruin, by the sin of our first parents, God then did manifest himself such as he is; that is to say, merciful and just (1): Merciful, since he delivers and preserves from this perdition all, whom he, in his eternal and unchangeable counsel of mere goodness, has elected in Christ Jesus our Lord, without any respect to their works (2): Just, in leaving others in the fall and perdition wherein they have involved themselves (3).

(1) Rom. 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom. 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom. 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom. 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

(2) Rom. 9: 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom. 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom. 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph. 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Psa. 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Deut 32:8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
1 Sam. 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
Psa. 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Mal. 1:2  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
2 Tim. 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom. 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Rom. 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom. 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom. 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Eph. 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Tit. 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit. 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
2 Tim. 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Tim 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
1 Pet. 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

(3) Rom. 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom. 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
2 Tim. 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

ARTICLE 17. 
Of the Recovery of Fallen Man

We believe that our most gracious God, in his admirable wisdom and goodness, seeing that man had thus thrown himself into temporal and eternal death, and made himself wholly miserable, was pleased to seek and comfort him, when he trembling (1) fled from his presence, promising him that he would give his Son, who should be made of a woman, to bruise the head of the serpent, and would make him happy (2).

(1) Gen. 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen. 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen. 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Isa. 65:1  I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Isa. 65:2  I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

(2)Heb. 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Gen. 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Isa. 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
John 7:42  Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
2 Tim. 2:8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Heb. 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Gen. 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Gal. 4:4  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

ARTICLE 18. 
Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ

We confess, therefore, that God did fulfill the promise, which he made to the fathers, by the mouth of his holy prophets (1), when he sent into the world, at the time appointed by him, his own, only-begotten and eternal Son, who took upon him the form of a servant, and became like unto man (2), really assuming the true human nature, with all its infirmities, sin excepted (3), being conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost, without the means of man (4), and did not only assume human nature as to the body, but also a true human soul (5), that he might be a real man. For since the soul was lost as well as the body, it was necessary that he should take both upon him, to save both. Therefore we confess (in opposition to the heresy of the Anabaptists, who deny that Christ assumed human flesh of his mother) that Christ is become a partaker of the flesh and blood of the children (6); that he is a fruit of the loins of David after the 
flesh (7); made of the seed of David according to the flesh (8); a fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary (9), made of a woman (10), a branch of David (11); a shoot of the root of Jesse (12); sprung from the tribe of Judah (13); descended from the Jews according to the flesh(14); of the seed of Abraham, since he took on him the seed of Abraham (15), and became like unto his brethren in all things, sin excepted (16), so that in truth he is our Immanuel, that is to say, God with us (17).

(1) Isa. 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Luke 1:55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Gen. 26:4  And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
2 Sam. 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Psa. 132:11  The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Acts 13:23  Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

(2) 1 Tim. 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Tim. 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Phil. 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(3) Heb. 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb. 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb. 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

(4) Luke 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

(5) Matt. 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
John 12:27  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

(6) Heb. 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

(7) Acts 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

(8) Psa. 132:11  The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
Rom. 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

(9) Luke 1:42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

(10) Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

(11) Jer. 33:15  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

(12) Isa. 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

(13) Heb. 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

(14) Rom. 9:4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

(15) Gen. 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
2 Sam. 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Matt. 1:1  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Gal. 3:16   Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

(16) Heb. 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb. 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb. 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

(17) Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matt. 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

ARTICLE 19. 
Of the union and distinction of the two Natures in the person of Christ.

We believe that by this conception, the person of the Son is inseparably united and connected with the human nature; so that there are not two Sons of God, nor two persons, but two natures united in one single person: yet, that each nature retains its own distinct properties. As then the divine nature has always remained untreated, without beginning of days or end of life (1), filling heaven and earth: so also has the human nature not lost its properties, but remained a creature, having beginning of days, being a finite nature, and retaining all the properties of a real body (2). And though he has by his resurrection given immortality to the same, nevertheless he has not changed the reality of his human nature; forasmuch as our salvation and resurrection also depend on the reality of his body. But these two natures are so closely united in one person, that they were not separated even by his death. Therefore that which he, when dying, commended into the hands of his Father, was a real human spirit, departing from his body (3). But in the meantime the divine nature always remained united with the human, even when he lay in the grave. And the Godhead did not cease to be in him, any more than it did when he was an infant, though it did not so clearly manifest itself for a while. Wherefore we confess, that he is very God, and very Man: very God by his power to conquer death; and very man that he might die for us according to the infirmity of his flesh.

(1) Heb. 7:3  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

(2) 1 Cor. 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1 Cor. 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Phil. 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Matt. 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Acts 1:2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Acts 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Acts 3:21   Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Luke 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
John 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20: 27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

(3) Luke 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Matt. 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

ARTICLE 20. 
That God has manifested his justice and mercy in Christ

We believe that God, who is perfectly merciful and just, sent his Son to assume that nature, in which the disobedience was committed, to make satisfaction in the same, and to bear the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death (1). God therefore manifested his justice against his Son, when he laid our iniquities (2) upon him; and poured forth his mercy a