¶ Articles agreed on by the bishops, and other learned men in the synod at London, in the year of our lord god, M.D.LII. for the avoiding of controversy in opinions, and the establishment of a godly concord, in certain matiers of Religion.  
¶ Published by the kings Maeiesties commandment, in the month of may. Anno Domini. 1553.   

¶ Articles published by the kings majesty  

¶ Of faith in the holy trinity  
THere is but one living, and true God, and he is everlasting with out body, partes, or passions, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, the maker, and preserver of all things both visible, and invisible, and in unity of this Godhead there bee three persons of one substance, power, and eternity, the Father, the Soonne, and the holy ghost.   

¶ That the word, or son of God, was made a very man.  
THe son which is the word of the father, took mannes nature in the womb of the blessed virgin mary of her substance, so that two whole, and perfeict natures, that is to say, the Godhead, and manhood were ioigned together into one person, never to be divided, whereof is one christ very God, and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and butted, to reconcile his father to us, and to be a Sacrifice for all sin of man, both original, and actual.   

¶ Of the going down of christ into hell.  
AS Christ died, and was butted for us: so also it is to be believed, that he went down in to hell. For the body lay in the Sepulchre, until the resurrection: but his ghost departing from him, was with the ghosts that were in prison, or in hell, and didde preach to the same, as the place of. S. Peter doth testify.   

¶ The Resurrection of christ.  
christ didde truly rise again from death, and took again his body with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of mannes nature, where with he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge men at the last day.   

The doctrine of holy Scripture is sufficient to salvation  
holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: So that whatsoever is neither red therein, nor may be proved thereby, although it be sometime received of the faithful, as godly, and profitable for an order, and comeliness: yet no man ought to bee constreigned to believe it as an article of faith, or repute it requisite to the necessity of salvation.   

The old testament is not to be refused.  
THe old Testament is not to bee put away as though it were contrary to the new, but to be kept still: for both in the old, and new testaments, everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only mediator between god, and man, being both god, and man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that old Fathers did look onely for transitory promises.   

The three creeds  
THE three creeds, Nicene creed, Athanasius creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles creed, ought thoroughly to be received: for they may be proved by most certain warrauntes of holy Scripture.   

Of original, or birth sin  
original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, as the Pellagianes do vainly talk, which also the Anabaptistes do now a daies renew, but it is the fault, & corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from his former righteousness which he had at his creation and is of his own nature given to evil, so that the flesh desireth always contrary to the spirit, and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth Goddes wrath & damnation: And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are baptized, whereby the lust of the flesh called in greek 〈◇〉( which some do expoune, the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh) is not subject to the lawe of GOD. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe, and are baptized, yet Thapostle doth confess, that concupiscence, and lust hath of itself the nature of sin.   

¶ Of free will.  
WE haue no power to do good works pleasant, and acceptable to God, with out the Grace of God by Christ, preventing us that wee may haue a good will, and work in us, when we haue that will.   

¶ Of Grace.  
THe Grace of Christ, or the holy Ghost by him given doth take away the stony heart, and giveth an heart of flesh. And although, those that haue no will to good things, he maketh them to will, and those that would evil things, he maketh them not to will the same: yet nevertheless he enforceth not the will And therfore no man when he sinneth, can excuse himself, as not worthy to be blamed, or condemned, by alleging that he sinned vnwillinglie, or by compulsion.   

¶ Of the justification of man.  
justification by onely faith in Iesus Christ in that sece, as it is declared in the homely of justification, is a most certain, and wholesome doctrine for christian men.   

¶ works before justification.  
works doen before the Grace of Christ and the inspiratione of his spirit are not pleasant to GOD, forasmoche as they spring not of faith in Iesu christ, neither do they make men meet to receive Grace, or as the school aucthoures say, deserve Grace of congruity: but because they are not doen as god hath willed, and commanded them to be dooen, we doubt not but they haue the nature of sin.   

¶ works of Supererogation.  
voluntary works besides, over, and above Goddes commandments, which they call works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy, and iniquity. For by them men do declare, that they do not onely render to GOD, asmuch as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, then of bound duty is required: Whereas christ saieth plainly: when you haue dooen al that are commanded you, say, we be unprofitable servants.   

¶ No man is without sin, but christ alone.  
christ in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in al things, sin onely 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 made ones for ever, should take away the sins of the world: and sin( as Saint john saieth) was not in him. But the rest, yea, although we be baptized, and born again in christ, yet we all offend in many things: and if we say, we haue no sin, wee deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in vs.   

¶ Of sin against the holy ghost.  
every deadly sin willingly committed after baptism, is not sin against the holy Ghost, and vnpard onable: wherefore the place for penitence, is not to bee denighed to such as fall into sin after baptism. After we haue received the holy ghost, wee may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace of GOD wee may rise again, and amend our lives. And therfore they are to be condemned, which say, they can nomore sin as long as they live here, or denigh the place for penitence to such as truly repent, and amend their lives.   

¶ blasphemy against the holy ghost.  
blasphemy against the holy Ghost is, when a man of malice, and stubburnesse of mind doth rail vpon the truth of goddes word manifestly perceived, and being enemy thereunto persecuteth the same. And because such be guilty of Goddes curse, they entangle themselves with a most grievous, and heinous crime, whereupon this kind of sin is called, and affirmed of the lord, unpardonable.   

¶ Of predestination, and Election.  
PREdestination to life, is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby( before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his own judgement secret to us, to delruer from curse, and damnation those whom he hath chosen out of mankind, and to bring them to everlasting salvation by Christ, as besselles made to honour: whereupon, such as haue so excellent a benefit of GOD given unto them be called, according to Goddes purpose, by his spirit working in due season, they through grace obey the calling, they be justified freely, they be made sons by adoptione, they bee made like the image of Goddes onely begotten son Iesu christ, they walk religiously in good works, and at length by Goddes mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.  
As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our election in christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable coumfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the spirit of Christ, mortifiyng the works of the flesh, and their earthly membres, and drawing up their mind to high, and heavenly things, aswell because it doth greatly stablish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to bee enjoyed through christ, as because it doth seruentlie kindle their love towards god: So for curious, and carnal persons lacking the spirit of Christ, to haue continually before their eyes the sentence of Goddes predestination, is a most daungerous dounefall, whereby, the devill mate thrust them either into desperation, or into a rechielesnesse of most unclean living, no less perilous then desperation.  
Furthermore although the Decrees of predestination are unknown unto us, year we must receive Goddes promises, in such wise, as they bee generally set forth to us in holy Scripture, and in our doings that will of god is to be followed, which we haue expressly declared unto us in the word of god.   

¶ Wee must trust to obtain eternal salvation onely by the name of christ.  
they, also are to be had accursed, & abhorred that presume to say, that every man shalbe saved by the Lawe, or sect which he professeth, so that he bee diligent to frame his life according to that Lawe, and the light of Nature: For holy Scripture doth set our unto us onely the name of Iesu Christ whereby men must be saned   

¶ All men are bound to reap the moral commandments of the Lawe,  
THe Lawe, which was given of GOD by Moses, although it bind not Christian men, as concerning the Ceremonies, and Rites of the same: Neither is it required that the civil precepts, and Ordres of it should of necessity bee received in any commune weal: yet no man, bee he never so perfeicte a Christian, is exempt, and lose from the Obedience of those commandments, which are called Moral: wherefore they are not to be hearkened unto, who affirm that holy Scripture is given only to the weak, and do boast the imselues continually of the spirit of whom( they sate) they haue learned such things, as they teach, although the same be most evidently repugnant to the holy Scripture.   

¶ Of the church.  
THe visible church of Christ, is a Congregation of faiethfull men, in the which the pure word of GOD is preached, and the sacramentes be duly ministed, according to Christes ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.  
As the church of jerusalem, of Alexandria, and of antioch hath erred: So also the church of Rome hath erred not onely in their living, but also in matiers of their faith.   

¶ Of the authority of the church.  
IT is not lawefulle for the church to ordem any thing that is contrary to Goddes word written, neither may it so expoune one place of scripture, that it be repugnant to an other. wherefore although the church be a witness and a keeper of holy writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same: So besides the same, ought it not to enforce any thing to bee believed for necessity of salvation.   

¶ Of the authority of general counsels  
general counsels may not be gathered together, without the commandment, and will of Princes: and when they be gathered( forasmoche as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the spirit, and word of GOD) they may err, and sometime haue erred, not onely in worldly matiers, but also in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them, as necessary to salvation, haue neither strength, nor authority, unless it may be declared, that they be taken out of holy scripture.   

¶ Of purgatory  
THE doctrine of Scholeaucthoures concerning purgatory, Pardones, Worshipping, and adoration as well of Images, as of relics, and also invocation of Sainctes, is a fonde thing vainly fetgned, and grounded vpon no warrant of scripture, but rather repugnant to the word of God.   

¶ No man may minister in the Congregation, except he be called.  
IT is not lawf●● for any man to take vpon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the sacramentes in the congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called, and sent, which be chosen, and called to this work by men, who haue public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call, and send ministres into the lords betide.   

¶ men must speak in the Congregation in such tongue, as the people understandeth.  
IT is most semelie, and most agreeable to the word of God, that in the congregation nothing be openly read, or spoken in a tongue unknown to the people, the which thing S. paul didde forbid, except some were present that should declare the same.   

¶ Of the Sacramentes.  
OUR lord Iesus christ hath knit toguether a company of new people with Sacramentes, most few in number, most easy to bee kept, most excellent in significatione, as is baptism, and the lords Supper.  
THE Sacramentes were not ordained of christ to be gased vpon, or to be carried about, but that we should rightly use them. And in such onely, as worthily receive the same, they haue an wholesome effect, and operacione, and yet notthat of the work wrought, as some men speak, which word, as it is strange, and unknown to holy Scripture: So it engendereth no godly, but a very superstitious sense. But they that receive the Sacramentes vnwoorthelie, purchase to themselves Damnatione, as saint paul saieth.  
SAcramentes ordained by the word of God be not onely Badges, and tokens of christian Mennes professione, but rather they bee certeme sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and Goddes good will toward us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen, and confirm our faith in him.   

¶ The wickedness of the Ministres doth not take away the effectual operation of Goddes ordinances  
ALthough in the visible church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometime the eiuil haue chief authority in the ministration of the word, and Sacramentes: Year forasmoche as they do not the same in their own name, but do minister by Christes commission, and authority: we may use their ministery both in hearing the word of God, and in the receiving the sacramentes, neither is the effect of Goddes ordinances taken away by their wickedness, or the grace of Goddes gifts diminished from such, as by faieth, and righthe receive the Sacramentes ministered unto them, which bee effectual, because of Christes institutione, and promise, although they be ministered by eiuil men. nevertheless it appertaineth to the discipline of the church, that enquiry be made of such, and that they bee accused by those that haue knowledge of their offences, and finally being found guilty by just iudgement, be deposed.   

¶ Of baptism.  
baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby christian men are discerned from other that bee not Christened, but it is also a sign, and seal of our new birth, whereby, as by an instrument they that receive baptism rightly, are grafted in the church, the promises of forgiveness of sin, and our Adoption to bee the sons of God, are visibly signed and sealed, faith is confirmed, and grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The custom of the church to Christen young children, is to bee commended, and in any wise to bee retained in the church.   

¶ Of the lords Supper.  
THE Supper of the lord is not onely a sign of the love that Christiens ought to haue among themselves one to another, but rather it is a sacrament of our redemption by Christes death, insomoche that to such as right: lye, woorthelie, and with faieth receive the same, the bread which we break, is a communion of the body of christ. Likewise the cup of blessing, is a Communion of the blood of christ.  
TRansubstanciation, or the change of the substance of bread, and wine into the substance of Christes body, and blood cannot bee proved by holy writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, and hath given occasion to many supersticions.  
FORasmoche as the truth of mannes nature requireth, that the body of one, and theself same man cannot be at one time in diverse places, but must needs be in some one certain place: Therfore the body of christ cannot bee present at one time in many, and diverse places. And because( as holy Scripture doth teach) christ was taken up into heaven, and there shall continue unto thende of the world, a faithful man ought not, either to believe, or openly to confess the real, and bodily presence( as they term it) of Christes flesh, and blood, in the sacrament of the lords supper.  
THe sacrament of the lords supper was not commanded by Christes ordinance to be kept, carried about, lifted up, nor worshipped.   

¶ Of the perfeicte oblation of christ made vpon the cross.  
THe offering of christ made ones for ever, is the perfect redemption, the pacifiyng of goddes displeasure, and satisfaction for al the sins of the whole world, both original and actual: and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. wherefore the sacrifices of masses in the which, it was commonly said, that the priest did offer christ for the quick, and the dead, to haue remission of pain or sin, were forged fables, and dangerous deceipts.   

¶ The state of single life is commanded to no man by the word of God.  
bishops, Priestes, and Deacons are not commanded to vow the state of single life without marriage, neither by Goddes lawe are they compelled to abstain from matrimony.   

¶ Excommunicate persons are to bee avoided.  
THat person, which by open denunciacion of the church, is rightly cut of from the unity of the church, and excommunicate, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faiethful, as an Heathen, and publican, until he bee openly reconciled by penance, and received into the church by a judge that hath auchtoritie thereto.   

¶ traditions of the church.  
IT is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies bee in all places one, or utterly like. For at al times they haue been diuers, and may bee changed, according to the diversity of countries, and mennes manners, so that nothing bee ordained against goddes word.  
whosoever through his private iudgement willingly, and purposely doth openly break the traditions, and Ceremonies of the church, which bee not repugnaunte to the word of God, and bee ordained, and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly( that other may fear to do the like) as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and hurteth thauctoritie of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.   

¶ homilies.  
THomelies of late given, and set out by the kings authority, be godly and wholesome, conteming doctrine to bee received of all men, and therefore are to be read to the people diligently, distinctly, and plainly.   

¶ Of the book of prayers, and Ceremonies of the church of england.  
THe book which of very late time was given to the church of england by the kings authority, and the Parlamente, containing the maner and form of praying, and ministering the Sacramentes in the church of england, likewise also the book of ordering Ministers of the church, set forth by the forsaied authority, are godly, and in no point repugnant to the wholesome doctrine of the Gospel but agreeable thereunto, ferthering and beautifiyng the same not a little, and therfore of al faithful membres of the church of england, and chiefly of the ministers of the word, they ought to be received, and allowed with all readiness of mind, and thankes giving, and to bee commended to the people of God.   

¶ Of civil magistrates.  
THe King of england is Supreme head in earth, next under christ, of the church of england, and ireland.  
THe bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of england.  
THe civil Magistrate is ordained, and allowed of God: wherefore we must obey him, not onely for fear of punishment, but also for conscience sake.  
THe civil laws may punish christian men with death, for heinous, & grievous offences.  
IT is lawful for Christians, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and to serve in lawful warres.   

¶ christian mennes goods are not commune.  
THe richesse & goods of christians are not commune, as touching the right title, & possession of the same( as certain anabaptistes do falsely boast) not withstanding every man ought of such things, as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his habilitie.   

¶ christian men may take an oath.  
IS we confess that vain, & rash swearing is forbid christian men by our lord Iesu Christ, and his Apostle james: so we judge that christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear, when the magistrate requireth in a cause of faith, and charity, so it bee doen( according to the Prophetes teaching) in iustice, judgement, and truth.   

¶ The Resurrection of the dead is not yet brought to pass.  
THe Resurrection of the dead is not as yet brought to pass, as though it only belonged to the soulle, which by the grace of christ is raised from the death of sin, but it is to be looked for at the last day: for then( as Scripture doth most manifestly testify) to all that bee dead their awne bodies, flesh, and bone shal be restored, that the whole man may( according to his works) haue other reward, or punishment, as he hath lived vertuoussie, or wickedly.   

¶ The soulles of them that depart this life do neither die with the bodies, nor sleep idly.  
they which say, that the soulles of such as depart hens do sleep, being without al sense, feeling, or perceiving, until the day of iudgement, or affirm that the soulles die with the bodies, and at the last day shalbe raised up with the same, do utterly dissent from the right belief declared to us in holy Scripture.   

¶ heretics called Millenarii.  
they that go about to renew the fable of heretics called Millenarij, be repugnant to holy Scripture, and cast themselves headlong into a Iuishe dotage.   

¶ All men shall not bee saved at the length.  
they also are worthy of condemnacion, who indeuoure at this time to restore the dangerous opinion, that al men, be they never so ungodly, shall at length bee saved, when they haue suffered pains for their sins a certain time appointed by Goddes iustice.   
God save the King.   

Richardus Graftonus typographus Regius excudebat. Londini. mensae weak.  
An. do. M.D.LIII.   

Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.