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Waldensian
Confessions of Faith
1. We believe and firmly maintain all
that is contained in the twelve articles of the symbol, commonly called
the apostles' creed, and we regard as heretical whatever is
inconsistent with the said twelve articles.
2. We
believe that there is one God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We
acknowledge for sacred canonical scriptures the books of the Holy
Bible. (Here follows the title of each, exactly conformable to our
received canon, but which it is deemed, on that account, quite
unnecessary to particularize.)
4. The
books above-mentioned teach us: That there is one GOD, almighty,
unbounded in wisdom, and infinite in goodness, and who, in His
goodness, has made all things. For He created Adam after His own image
and likeness. But through the enmity of the Devil, and his own
disobedience, Adam fell, sin entered into the world, and we became
transgressors in and by Adam.
5. That
Christ had been promised to the fathers who received the law, to the
end that, knowing their sin by the law, and their unrighteousness and
insufficiency, they might desire the coming of Christ to make
satisfaction for their sins, and to accomplish the law by Himself.
6. That
at the time appointed of the Father, Christ was born - a time when
iniquity everywhere abounded, to make it manifest that it was not for
the sake of any good in ourselves, for all were sinners, but that He,
who is true, might display His grace and mercy towards us.
7. That
Christ is our life, and truth, and peace, and righteousness - our
shepherd and advocate, our sacrifice and priest, who died for the
salvation of all who should believe, and rose again for their
justification.
8. And
we also firmly believe, that there is no other mediator, or advocate
with God the Father, but Jesus Christ. And as to the Virgin Mary, she
was holy, humble, and full of grace; and this we also believe
concerning all other saints, namely, that they are waiting in heaven
for the resurrection of their bodies at the day of judgment.
9. We
also believe, that, after this life, there are but two places - one for
those that are saved, the other for the damned, which [two] we call
paradise and hell, wholly denying that imaginary purgatory of
Antichrist, invented in opposition to the truth.
10.
Moreover, we have ever regarded all the inventions of men [in the
affairs of religion] as an unspeakable abomination before God; such as
the festival days and vigils of saints, and what is called holy-water,
the abstaining from
11. We
hold in abhorrence all human inventions, as proceeding from Antichrist,
which produce distress (Alluding probably to the voluntary penances
and mortification imposed by the Catholics on themselves), and are
prejudicial to the liberty of the mind.
12 We
consider the Sacraments as signs of holy things, or as the visible
emblems of invisible blessings. We regard it as proper and even
necessary that believers use these symbols or visible forms when it can
be done. Notwithstanding which, we maintain that believers may be saved
without these signs, when they have neither place nor opportunity of
observing them.
13. We
acknowledge no sacraments [as of divine appointment] but baptism and
the Lord's supper.
14. We
honour the secular powers, with subjection, obedience, promptitude, and
payment.
Waldenses Confession of 1544
1. We
believe that there is but one God, who is a Spirit - the Creator of all
things - the Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
us all; who is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth - upon whom we
are continually dependent, and to whom we ascribe praise for our life,
food, raiment, health, sickness, prosperity, and adversity. We love him
as the source of all goodness; and reverence him as that sublime being,
who searches the reins and trieth the hearts of the children of men.
2. We
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son and image of the Father - that in
Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and that by Him alone we
know the Father. He is our Mediator and advocate; nor is there any
other name given under heaven by which we can be saved. In His name
alone we call upon the Father, using no other prayers than those
contained in the Holy Scriptures, or such as are in substance agreeable
thereunto.
3. We
believe in the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, proceeding from the
Father, and from the Son; by whose inspiration we are taught to pray;
being by Him renewed in the spirit of our minds; who creates us anew
unto good works, and from whom we receive the knowledge of the truth.
4. We
believe that there is one holy church, comprising the whole assembly of
the elect and faithful, that have existed from the beginning of the
world, or that shall be to the end thereof. Of this church the Lord
Jesus Christ is the head - it is governed by His word and guided by the
Holy Spirit. In the church it behooves all Christians to have
fellowship. For her He [Christ] prays incessantly, and His prayer for
it is most acceptable to God, without which indeed their could be no
salvation.
5. We
hold that the ministers of the church ought to be unblameable both in
life and doctrine; and if found otherwise, that they ought to be
deposed from their office, and others substituted in their stead; and
that no person ought to presume to take that honour unto himself but he
who is called of God as was Aaron - that the duties of such are to feed
the flock of God, not for filthy lucre's sake, or as having dominion
over God's heritage, but as being examples to the flock, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in faith, and in chastity.
6. We
acknowledge, that kings, princes, and governors, are the appointed and
established ministers of God, whom we are bound to obey [in all lawful
and civil concerns]. For they bear the sword for the defence of the
innocent, and the punishment of evil doers; for which reason we are
bound to honour and pay them tribute. From this power and authority, no
man can exempt himself as is manifest from the example of the Lord
Jesus Christ, who voluntarily paid tribute, not taking upon himself any
jurisdiction of temporal power.
7. We
believe that in the ordinance of baptism the water is the visible and
external sign, which represents to as that which, by virtue of God's
invisible operation, is within us - namely, the renovation of our
minds, and the mortification of our members through [the faith of]
Jesus Christ. And by this ordinance we are received into the holy
congregation of God's people, previously professing and declaring our
faith and change of life.
8. We
hold that the Lord's supper is a commemoration of, and thanksgiving
for, the benefits which we have received by His sufferings and death -
and that it is to be received in faith and love - examining ourselves,
that so we may eat of that bread and drink of that cup, as it is
written in the Holy Scriptures.
9. We
maintain that marriage was instituted of God. That it is holy and
honourable, and ought to be forbidded to none, provided there be no
obstacle from the divine word.
10. We
contend, that all those in whom the fear of God dwells, will thereby be
led to please him, and to abound in the good works [of the gospel]
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them - which are
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, sobriety,
and the other good works enforced in the Holy Scriptures.
11. On
the other hand, we confess that we consider it to be our duty to beware
of false teachers, whose object is to divert the minds of men from the
true worship of God, and to lead them to place their confidence in the
creature, as well as to depart from the good works of the gospel, and
to regard the inventions of men.
12. We
take the Old and the New Testament for the rule of our life, and we
agree with the general confession of faith contained in [what is
usually termed] the apostles' creed.
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