Question 23

What is that Creede of the Apostles?

1 I beleeue in God the father almightie, maker of heauen and earth. 2 And in Iesus Christ his only son our Lord. 3 Which was conceiued of the holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary. 4 Suffered vnder Pontius Pilat, was crucified, dead & buried, descended into hell. 5 Rose againe the third day from the dead. 6 And ascended into heauen, and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie. 7 From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead. 8 I beleeue in the holie Ghost. 9 I beleeue the catholike Church, the communion of Saintes. 10 I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes. 11 The resurrection of the flesh. 12 And the life euerlasting.

The vse

The profit of these articles, thus generally distinguished is this, that they may serue in sted of a rule, whereunto the fayth of al men ought to agree, and whatsoeuer is contrary, to one or to mo Articles, ought to be accounted false. Secondly, that they may be vnto vs in stead of a table, wherein we may perceiue distinctlie and seuerally, what things are to be marked in Christ: for as the partes of the bodie are distinguished by ioynts, so in this confession of fayth, whatsoeuer we ought distinctlie and seuerallie from the rest to beleeue, is rightlie and fitlie called an Aiticle.