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Ghost are not distinct Persons； but that 〃Word〃 signifies a
spoken word； and 〃Spirit〃 signifies motion created in things。
Article II： Of Original Sin。
Also they teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in
the natural way are born with sin； that is； without the fear of
God； without trust in God； and with concupiscence； and that this
disease； or vice of origin； is truly sin； even now condemning and
bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism
and the Holy Ghost。
They Condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original
depravity is sin； and who； to obscure the glory of Christ's merit
and benefits； argue that man can be justified before God by his
own strength and reason。
Article III： Of the Son of God。
Also they teach that the Word； that is； the Son of God； did
assume the human nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin
Mary； so that there are two natures； the divine and the human；
inseparably enjoined in one Person； one Christ； true God and
true man； who was born of the Virgin Mary； truly suffered； was
crucified； dead； and buried； that He might reconcile the
Father unto us； and be a sacrifice； not only for original
guilt； but also for all actual sins of men
He also descended into hell； and truly rose again the third
day； afterward He ascended into heaven that He might sit on
the right hand of the Father； and forever reign and have
dominion over all creatures； and sanctify them that believe in
Him； by sending the Holy Ghost into their hearts； to rule；
comfort； and quicken them； and to defend them against the
devil and the power of sin。
The same Christ shall openly come again to judge the quick and
the dead； etc。； according to the Apostles' Creed。
Article IV： Of Justification。
Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by
their own strength； merits； or works； but are freely justified
for Christ's sake； through faith； when they believe that they
are received into favor； and that their sins are forgiven for
Christ's sake； who； by His death； has made satisfaction for
our sins。 This faith God imputes for righteousness in His
sight。 Rom。 3 and 4。
Article V： Of the Ministry。
That we may obtain this faith； the Ministry of Teaching the
Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted。 For
through the Word and Sacraments； as through instruments； the
Holy Ghost is given； who works faith； where and when it
pleases God； in them that hear the Gospel； to wit； that God；
not for our own merits； but for Christ's sake； justifies those
who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's
sake。
They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the
Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word； through
their own preparations and works。
Article VI： Of New Obedience。
Also they teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good
fruits； and that it is necessary to do good works commanded by
God； because of God's will； but that we should not rely on
those works to merit justification before God。 For remission
of sins and justification is apprehended by faith； as also the
voice of Christ attests： When ye shall have done all these
things； say： We are unprofitable servants。 Luke 17； 10。 The
same is also taught by the Fathers。 For Ambrose says： It is
ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved；
freely receiving remission of sins； without works； by faith
alone。
Article VII： Of the Church。
Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever。
The Church is the congregation of saints； in which the Gospel
is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered。
And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree
concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration
of the Sacraments。 Nor is it necessary that human traditions；
that is； rites or ceremonies； instituted by men； should be
everywhere alike。 As Paul says： One faith； one Baptism； one
God and Father of all； etc。 Eph。 4； 5。 6。
Article VIII： What the Church Is。
Although the Church properly is the congregation of saints and
true believers； nevertheless； since in this life many
hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith； it is
lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men； according
to the saying of Christ： The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat； etc。 Matt。 23； 2。 Both the Sacraments and Word
are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of
Christ； notwithstanding they be administered by evil men。
They condemn the Donatists； and such like； who denied it to be
lawful to use the ministry of evil men in the Church； and who
thought the ministry of evil men to be unprofitable and of
none effect。
Article IX： Of Baptism。
Of Baptism they teach that it is necessary to salvation； and
that through Baptism is offered the grace of God； and that
children are to be baptized who； being offered to God through
Baptism are received into God's grace。
They condemn the Anabaptists； who reject the baptism of
children； and say that children are saved without Baptism。
Article X： Of the Lord's Supper。
Of the Supper of the Lord they teach that the Body and Blood
of Christ are truly present； and are distributed to those who
eat the Supper of the Lord； and they reject those that teach
otherwise。
Article XI： Of Confession。
Of Confession they teach that Private Absolution ought to be
retained in the churches； although in confession an
enumeration of all sins is not necessary。 For it is impossible
according to the Psalm： Who can understand his errors？ Ps。 19；
12。
Article XII： Of Repentance。
Of Repentance they teach that for those who have fallen after Baptism
there is remission of sins whenever they are converted and that
the Church ought to impart absolution to those thus returning to
repentance。 Now； repentance consists properly of these two parts：
One is contrition； that is； terrors smiting the conscience through
the knowledge of sin； the other is faith； which is born of the
Gospel； or of absolution； and believes that for Christ's sake；
sins are forgiven； comforts the conscience； and delivers it from
terrors。 Then good works are bound to follow； which are the fruits
of repentance。
They condemn the Anabaptists； who deny that those once justified
can lose the Holy Ghost。 Also those who contend that some may
attain to such perfection in this life that they cannot sin。
The Novatians also are condemned； who would not absolve such as had
fallen after Baptism； though they returned to repentance。
They also are rejected who do not teach that remission of sins comes
through faith but command us to merit grace through satisfactions of
our own。
Article XIII： Of the Use of the Sacraments。
Of the Use of the Sacraments they teach that the Sacraments
were ordained； not only to be marks of profession among men；
but rather to be signs and testimonies of the will of God
toward us； instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who
use them。 Wherefore we must so use the Sacraments that faith
be added to believe the promises which are offered and set
forth through the Sacraments。
They therefore condemn those who teach that the Sacraments
justify by the outward act； and who do not teach that； in the
use of the Sacraments； faith which believes that sins are
forgiven； is required。
Article XIV： Of Ecclesiastical Order。
Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly
teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be
regularly called。
Article XV： Of Ecclesiastical Usages。
Of Usages in the Church they teach that those ought to be
observed which may be observed without sin； and which are
profitable unto tranquillity and good order in the Church； as
particular holy…days； festivals； and the like。
Nevertheless； concerning such things men are admonished that
consciences are not to be burdened； as though such observance
was necessary to salvation。
They are admonished also that human traditions instituted to
propitiate God； to merit grace； and to make satisfaction for
sins； are opposed to the Gospel and the doctrine of faith。
Wherefore vows and traditions concerning meats and days； etc。；
instituted to merit grace and to make satisfaction for sins；
are useless and contrary to the Gospel。
Article XVI： Of Civil Affairs。
Of Civil Affairs they teach that lawful civil ordinances are
good works of God； and that it is right for Christians to bear
civil office； to sit as judges； to judge matters by the
Imperial and other existin