ARTICLE I.

Of the Holy Trinity.

There is but one living and true God, who is a spirit, everlasting; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

ARTICLE II.

Of the Word, or Son of God, which was made very man.

The Son, who is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance: so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to satisfy Divine justice, and to reconcile us to his Father, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin, but also for actual sins of men.

ARTICLE II.

Of the Resurrection of Christ, and his Second Coming.

Christ did truly rise from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, our High-Priest and Advocate, at the right hand of the Father, whence he will return to judge the world in righteousness. This Second Coming is the blessed hope of the Church. The heavens have received him, till the times of the restitution of all things. To those who look for him he shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation. Then shall he change the body of our humiliation that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. He will take to himself his great power, and shall reign till he have put all enemies under his feet.

ARTICLE IV.

Of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

It is the work of the Holy Ghost to reprove and convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; to take of the things of Christ and show them to men; to regenerate--making men willing, leading them to faith in Christ, and forming Christ in them the hope of glory; to strengthen them with might in their inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith; and to secure in them that walking in the ways of God which is called the Fruit of the Spirit. The true Church is thus called out of the world, and is builded together for an habitation of God, through the Spirit.

ARTICLE V.

Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost: Holy Scripture is therefore the Word of God; not only daes it contain the oracles of God, but it is itself the very oracles of God. And hence it containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, viz.:

Of the Old Testament:

Genesis,

Exodus,

Leviticus,

Numbers,

Deuteronomy,

Joshua,

Judges,

Ruth,

The 1st Book of Samuel,

The 2d Book of Samuel,

The 1st Book of Kings,

The 2d Book of Kings,

The 1st Book of Chronicles,

The 2nd Book of Chronicles,

The Book of Ezra,

The Book of Nehemiah,

The Book of Esther,

The Book of Job,

The Psalms,

The Proverbs,

Ecclesiastes,

Song of Solomon,

Isaiah,

Jeremiah,

Lamentations of Jeremiah,

Ezekiel,

Daniel,

Hosea,

Joel,

Amos,

Obadiah,

Jonah,

Micah,

Nahum,

Habakkuk,

Zephaniah,

Haggai,

Zechariah,

Malachi. Of the New Testament:

Matthew,

Mark,

Luke,

John,

Acts of the Apostles,

Romans,

1st Corinthians,

2d Corinthians,

Galatians,

Ephesians,

Philippians,

Colossians,

1st Thessalonians,

2d Thessalonians,

1st Timothy,

2d Timothy,

Titus,

Philemon,

Hebrews,

James,

1st Peter,

2d Peter,

1st John,

2d John,

3d John,

Jude,

The Revelation.

The Book [2232] commonly called "The Apocrypha" is not a portion of God's Word, and is not therefore to be read in churches, nor to be used in establishing any doctrine.