ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any common wealth; yet notwithstanding, no Chris­tian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which

are called moral.

VIII. Of the Three Creeds.

THE Three Creeds, Nicene

Creed, Athanasius's Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and be­lieved for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture.

IX. Of Original or Birth- sin. RIGINAL Sin standeth not in the

do vainly talk:) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the off­spring of Adam; whereby man is very

far gone from

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 wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in the Greek, phronema sarkos, which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh, is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth con­fess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin.

X. Of Free- Vill THE condition of Man after the fall of

Adam is such, that he 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 preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will

XI. Of the Justification of Man. are

W 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, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.

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XII. Of Good Works.

A are the fruits of Faith, and follow LBEIT that Good Works, which 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 lively Faith; insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.

XIII. Of Works before Justification. WORKS done before the grace of

Christ, the

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( as the School- authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea ra­ther, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be we

nature of sin.

XIV Of Works of Supererogation.

VOLUNTARY Works besides, over

and above,

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 saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, We are un­profitable servants.

XV. Of Christ alone without Sin. truth of our nature

was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clear­ly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without

spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once world, and sin, as Saint John saith, was made, should take away the sins of the not in him. But all we the rest, although baptized, and born again in Christ, yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

XVI. Of Sin after Baptism.

NOT

TOT every deadly sin willingly com­mitted after Baptism is sin against Wherefore the grant of repentance is not

to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptism. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be