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, who was his true life, [6] 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 hath 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 shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not: [13] where St. John calleth 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 saith, 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 receiveth 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 saith ought justly to be held sure and firm, that God worketh 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 what Christ hath wrought in man; which he teaches us, when he saith, Without me ye can do nothing.[21]

Introduction

1. That there is One Only God.
   
2. By what means God is made known unto us.
   
3. Of the written Word of God.
   
4. Canonical Books of the Holy Scripture.
   
5. From whence the Holy Scriptures derive their dignity and authority.
   
6. The difference between the canonical and apocryphal books.
   
7. The sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, to be the only rule of faith.
   
8. That God is one in Essence, yet nevertheless distinguished in three Persons.
   
9. The proof of the foregoing article of the Trinity of persons in one God.
   
10. That Jesus Christ is true and eternal God.
    
11. That the Holy Ghost is true and eternal God.
    
12. Of the Creation.
    
13. Of Divine Providence.
    
14. Of the Creation and Fall of man, and his Incapacity to perform what is truly good.
    
15. Of Original Sin.
    
16. Of Eternal Election.
    
17. Of the Recovery of Fallen Man.
    
18. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
    
19. Of the union and distinction of the two Natures in the person of Christ.
    
20. That God hath manifested his justice and mercy in Christ Jesus.
    
21. Of the satisfaction of Christ, our only High Priest, for us.
    
22. Of Faith in Jesus Christ.
    
23. Of Justification.
    
24. Of man's Sanctification and Good Works.
    
25. Of the abolishing of the Ceremonial Law.
    
26. Of Christ's Intercession.
    
27. Of the Catholic Christian Church.
    
28. That every one is bound to join himself to the true Church.
    
29. Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.
    
30. Concerning the Government of, and Offices in the Church.
    
31. Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons.
    
32. Of the Order and Discipline of the Church.
    
33. Of the Sacraments.
    
34. Of Holy Baptism.
    
35. Of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    
36. Of Magistrates.
    
37. Of the Last Judgment.
    
    

1. 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. Gen. 1:26;
   
   Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecc. 7:29;
   
   And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph. 4:24.
   
   
2. 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. Gen. 1:31;
   
   And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph 4:24.
   
   
3. Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. Psa. 49:20;
   
   But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear Isa. 59:2.
   
   
4. 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. ... 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; Gen. 3:6,17.
   
   
5. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ... 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. 3:3,6
   
   
6. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isa. 59:2.
   
   
7. 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: Eph. 4:18.
   
   
8. 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. 5:12;
   
   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. 2:17;
   
   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. Gen. 3:19.
   
   
9. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ... Rom. 3:10, &c.
   
   
10. Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 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 14:16,17;
    
    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: Acts 17:27.
    
    
11. 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: 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. Rom. 1:20,21;
    
    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: Acts 17:27.
    
    
12. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Eph. 5:8;
    
    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! Matt. 6:23.
    
    
13. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5.
    
    
14. Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. Isa. 26:10;
    
    The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Psa. 94:11;
    
    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:34;
    
    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. 6:17;
    
    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. ... Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Rom.7:5,17.
    
    
15. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27;
    
    LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa. 26:12.
    
    
16. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27;
    
    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. ... And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:44, 65.
    
    
17. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom. 8:7.
    
    
18. 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. 1 Cor. 2;14;
    
    The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Psa. 94:11.
    
    
19. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 2 Cor. 3:5.
    
    
20. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13.
    
    
21. 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. John 15:5.