First Helvetic Confession
By Heinrich Bullinger, Basel, Switzerland.
- Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scrypture
The canonycall or holy scrypture whiche is the worde of god taught and gyuen by the holy spryte, & puplyshed vnto the worlde by the prophetes and holy apostles, which also is... - Chapter 2: Of the Exposicion of Scrypture
The interpretacion or exposicio of this holy wrytte ought and shuld be sought out of it selfe, so that it shulde be the owne interpretour, the rule of charite and faythe... - Chapter 3: Of Mannes Tradicions
As to other thynges, of tradicions of men howe bewtifull & how moch receyued soeuer they be, what so euer tradicions withdraweth vs & stoppeth vs fro the scripture, of such do... - Chapter 4: Of the Holy Fathers
For the whiche sorte of interpretacyon so farre as the holy fathers hathe not gone fro it, not onely do we receyue them as interpretours of the scripture but also we honour and... - Chapter 5: The Ende & Entent of the Scrypture
The pryncypal entent of al the scripture canonicall is to declare that God is beniuolent and frendly mynded to mankynde, and that he hathe declared that kyndnes in and throughe... - Chapter 6: Of God
Of God we byleue in this sorte, that he is almyghtie, beynge one in substance and thre in persones, whiche euen as he hathe created by his worde, that is his sone, all thynges... - Chapter 7: Of Man
Man whiche is the perfectest image of God in earthe, and also is the chefe dignite and honoure amonge all creatures visible, beynge made of soule and body, of the whiche twayne... - Chapter 8: Of Originall Synne
And so this pestiferous infection whiche men calleth originall, hathe infecte and ouerspred the whole kynde of man, so far that by no helpe (he beynge the sone of wrathe and... - Chapter 9: Of Frewyll
Wherfore we attribute so free wyll to man as we whiche wyttynge & wyllynge to do good, fele experiece of euyll, Also euyll trewly we maye do of oure owne wyll, but to enbrace... - Chapter 10: Of the Eternall Mynde of God to Restore Man
And howbeit that through his fault man was subiecte vnto dampnacion, and also was runne vnder the iuste indingnacion of God to take vengaunce of hym, yet god the father neuer... - Chapter 11: Of Iesus Christ and that is Done by Hym
This Christ the very sone of God, & very God and very man also was made our brother, at the tyme appoynted he toke vpon hi whole man, made of soule and body, hauynge two... - Chapter 12: The Ende of the Preachynge of the Gospell
And therfore in the whole doctryne of the euangelystes anunciat and shew to be the fyrste, and chefely to be inculcated and taught that we are safe onely by the marcie of God,... - Chapter 13: Of Fayth & of the Power of It
And these so godly benifites with the very sanctificacion of the holy spirite, do we optayne by fayth, the very trewe gyfte of God, and not throughe any other power or strength... - Chapter 14: The Congregacion or Churche
Also we holde and beleue that the churche, whiche is the congregacion & eleccion of all holy men, whiche also is the spouse of Christ whom he shall presente without spot vnto... - Chapter 15: The Ministers of the Word of God
And for this cause we graunte the ministers of the church to be Cooperators of God as Paule calleth the, by whome God geueth and ministreth both know ledge of our selfe, and... - Chapter 16: The Power of the Churche
The aucthorite to preache Goddes worde, and to feede the Lordes flocke, the whiche properly is the power of the keyes, prescribynge and comaundyng, all men bothe hye and lowe... - Chapter 17: The Chosyng of Ministers or Officers
This ministracion and offyce shulde be graunted to no man but to him whom the ministers of the churche, and they vnto whom the charge is gyuen by the churches, & foud iudged to... - Chapter 18: The Heed & Sheperd of the Churche
Christe verely hym selfe is the very trewe heed of his churche and congregacion, and the onely pastor and heerd, and he also geueth presydetes, heedes, and teachers, to the... - Chapter 19: The Dutie of Ministers or Officers
The chefe and pryncypall offyce of this ministracion is to preache repentaunce and remission of synne through Iesu Christe, to praye continually for the people, to geue...