Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he
hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and
undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic
faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in
Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For
there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of
the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as
the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father
uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father
unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father
eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are
not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three
uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So
likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost
Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So
the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet
they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord;
the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one
Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to
acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we
forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or
three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The
Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created,
nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers;
one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in
this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less
than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So
that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity
in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him
thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also
believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the
right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance [Essence] of the
Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance [Essence]
of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a
reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as
touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his
Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one
Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by
assumption of the Manhood by God. One altogether; not by confusion of
Substance [Essence]; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul
and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our
salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the God the
Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the
dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And
shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good
shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into
everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe
truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.
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