I. To the communion with Christ, and therefore, to the participation of salvation, faith is most necessary.

To the ingrafting into Christ and the helping forward this communion, the Holy Ghost useth the outward instruments of the gospel and the sacraments. But unless the same Spirit doth also stir up in us faith, by which we may embrace Christ with all His benefits offered unto us, we hold that those instruments can profit us nothing to salvation. And therefore we doubt not but to the union with Christ and participation of all His benefits, faith is most necessary.

II. What we mean by the name of faith.

Now by the name of faith we understand not a certain human opinion or persuasion concerning God and Christ, but a gift of divine wisdom and prudence stirred up by the Holy Ghost in our hearts, by hearing the Word of God, whereby we with a sincere, firm and constant mind do assent to the whole Word of God revealed in the Scriptures for the authority of God speaking therein; but especially to the gospel which bringeth the glad tidings of redemption purchased by Christ, and do truly understand in it God Himself, His will, Christ our Mediator, and all His benefits. Yea, we certainly know them, lovingly embrace them, and call upon God with an assured trust in His mercy and in His unspeakable love towards us. And we are encouraged to love Him again, and also provoked to the performance of a faithful obedience to Him, and to glorify Him in good works and duties of charity towards our neighbor, even to the end of our lives.

III. A confirmation of the former opinion.

For neither is true faith a property of man's wit, but a gift of God (Phil. 1:29). Neither is it given to all, but to the elect (Titus 1:1). Neither is it an uncertain and wavering opinion of things promised (Acts 13:45), but a substance and settled assurance of things promised, and an assured taking hold on things which are not seen (Heb. 11:1). Neither doth it grow from the hearing of human reasons, but is conceived by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), and is grounded upon the authority of God Himself only, speaking and promising (1 Tim. 1:5). Neither is it [a] hypocritical and dissembled, but a sincere assent thereunto. Neither is it a temporal persuasion, but a constant and perpetual, though many times we weaken the same by our sins (Matt 13:21). Neither is it a blind or [fond] matter, but an exceeding great wisdom, whereby we know God and Christ and heavenly things, and a Christian prudence, which causeth us not to abuse that knowledge of God, but to apply it to the true use (Eph. 1:8). Neither (lastly) is it a dead thing, but lively and working through charity (Gal. 5:6; James 2:20).

IV. Faith hath her increases.

And albeit the faith of the elect doth never utterly decay but always liveth, yet we know that it is not always so perfect and complete but it hath daily need of increase, for which both the apostles prayed, and we confess that we ought always to pray unto God (Luke 17:5; Eph. 1:17-18).

V. The confession of the truth cannot be separated from the true faith.

We also believe that true faith can never (when need is) want [lack] the true confession of the truth, as saith the apostle, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:10). And therefore we condemn the Libertines, and others of their crew that think it is in their own choice to dissemble the truth in all places, and among all people, and to apply themselves unto any religion.

VI. Hope springeth of faith.

We also believe that hope springeth of faith, and that faith is the foundation of hope, as the apostle saith, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for" (Heb. 11:1). For therefore do we hope for the good things to come, and assuredly look for them through patience, because we believe in God's promises.

VII. What hope is.

Now hope is a gift of God whereby we do as certainly look for, as we assuredly believe through patience in the mercy of God and for the merit of Christ alone, those promised good things, which are not yet either had or seen (Rom. 8:24).

VIII. The assurance of hope, whence it is.

For Christian mens' hope, as it doth not spring of any human promises, so neither is it cherished by human merits nor relieth thereupon, but being manifoldly confirmed and sealed in our hearts by the sole truth of God's promises; being also declared to all the faithful by the mighty and all-working power of the same God alone which promised, but especially being showed openly in Christ at such time as He raised Him from the dead, and made Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:20). And lastly, being fixed and upheld by the only obedience and merits of Christ in whom we believe, and in whom we hope, it doth assuredly and steadfastly look for the accomplishment of our salvation, even the resurrection from death, the coming of the glory of the great God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and the full possession of the heavenly inheritance.

IX. Charity also doth spring of faith.

We believe also that of true faith springeth true charity, by which it worketh, and by which it showeth how forcible it is, as the apostle saith, that the faith availeth much in Christ "which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6); and John affirmeth that he which loveth not hath not known God (1 John 4:8). Therefore we acknowledge not them for brethren which boast of faith, when they have not charity (James 2:15-16).

X. Charity is the gift of God.

And we believe that the same charity is the singular gift of God whereby we are affectioned towards God the Father, and Christ our Redeemer, to love them again and to glorify them with all our hearts; and inclined and made prone to good will and loving-kindness as well towards all men, yea even our enemies, as especially towards the saints and faithful. Therefore we disallow them which say that man can of his own natural power love God above all things. For love cometh of God, saith John, (1 John 4:7). [1 John 4:18 in margin]

XI. Testimonies of true charity.

Neither do we think that to be true and Christian charity, which cometh not to that nature, which the apostle describeth in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, namely, that it suffereth long; is bountiful; envieth not; doth not boast itself; is not puffed up; doth no uncomely thing; seeketh not her own things; is not provoked to anger; thinketh not evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; suffereth all things, and the rest which follow. ["Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."] [KJV]

XII. By charity, the communion with Christ and the church is nourished.

We believe that by true charity the communion with Christ and with the church is exceedingly cherished, increased, and preserved, inasmuch as love doth unite between themselves the persons loving and beloved, as John saith, He which abideth in love abideth in God, and God in him.