The Primitive Baptist have identified their faith and practice by submitting articles of faith. Although, these articles differ slightly in word they support and declare the same basic fundamentals and principles as adhered to by all "orderly" Primitive Baptist. The list below includes examples of articles of faith as instituted in several states.

Virginia Articles of Faith Sand-lick District Association of Virginia We believe in one only true and living God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and that these three are one. We believe that the King James translation (out of the original tongue) is the scripture of truth, and the only rule of faith and practice. We believe that all mankind is in a fallen state by nature, and consequently in a state of condemnation, and that man cannot recover himself from this state by his own free will and ability. We believe that sinners are justified by faith and accounted righteous before God only by the imputed righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in election according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. We believe that saints are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation and shall never fall finally away. We believe that all the regenerate are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, and that good works follow faith as a fruit of it, and that God works in His people both to will and to do of His good pleasure and that it is by our fruits that we are known. We believe that a church of Jesus Christ is a company of believers baptized upon a profession of their faith in Christ, contending for the faith once delivered to the saints and maintaining pure and holy ordinances as they have been delivered. We believe that baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances of the gospel, feet washing an example, and that true believers are the only proper subjects, and the only true mode of baptism is by immersion. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, and a general judgment, and that the joys of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting. We believe that no minister has the right to administer the ordinances of the gospel, except those who have come under the imposition of hands by the presbytery, and is, at the time, in fellowship with the church.

CALIFORNIA Articles of Faith (Various Churches of California) We believe in only one true and living God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three in one. We believe that Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are Divine authority and the only rule of faith and practice. We believe in the total depravity of the human nature and that a recovery from that state is wholly of the free sovereign mercy and grace of God in Jesus Christ. We believe that God from eternity purposed to save a people from their sins for His own name's sake, and in His infinite wisdom, He devised the plan and appointed every means necessary to accomplish the great end of their redemption, which He effects in His own time by the operation of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God from eternity purposed in himself for His own glory to make a display of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and truth in the world of creation and revelation which He made in the disposition of His providence. We believe that sinners are justified before God by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and such as are born of the Spirit of God are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. We believe that good works are the effects of the faith of God's elect and follow being born of the Spirit of God and are evidence of a gracious state. We believe that Baptism, The Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet are ordinances of Jesus Christ and none but those who have professed in Christ according to His will are fit subjects for either. We believe that Baptism by the burial of the person in water is the gospel baptism of the penitent in Jesus Christ. We believe that no minister has any right to administer the ordinances of Baptism only such as have been regularly baptized and come under the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery by the authority of the Church of Christ. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and that their vile bodies will be raised and fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ, when they will be fitted for eternal happiness and the bodies of the wicked will be raised unto everlasting contempt.

INDIANA Articles of Faith (Churches of White River Association of Indiana) We believe in only one true and living God, the Father, the Word or Son and the Holy Ghost; equal in power and glory. We believe the scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be of divine authority and the only infallible rules of faith and practice. We believe in the total depravity of human nature, and the recovery from that situation is wholly and entirely of sovereign, free, unmerited grace of God in Christ Jesus. We believe that God purposed in himself, for His own glory, to make a display of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness and truth, in the work of His creation, which He hath made in the dispensation of His providence. We believe that God, from eternity, purposed to save a people from their sins, for His own name's sake and that in infinite wisdom, He devised the plan, and appointed every means necessary to accomplish the great end of their redemption, which he effects in His own time, by the operation of His Holy Spirit. We believe that sinners are justified before God alone by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. We believe all such as are born of the Spirit of God, are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto eternal salvation. We believe that good works are the efforts of the faith of God's elect and follow being born of the Spirit of God, and in this point of view, are evidences, of a gracious state. We believe Baptism, and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of the Gospel, instituted by Jesus Christ, and none but those who profess faith in Christ and obedience to His will, are the fit subjects for either. We believe immersion, according to the scriptures and apostolic practice to be the only proper mode of Baptism. We believe the sanctity of the first day of the week, or Lord's day, ought to be observed; and that it should be spent in public or private worship of God, and that we should abstain from our worldly concerns, except in cases of necessity and mercy. We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and unjust; and that God will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath appointed. We believe the righteous will forever abide in the peaceful presence of God, their Redeemer, and His pardoning grace and forgiving love be the theme of their song, while the wicked shall remain in everlasting torment.

LOUISIANA Articles of Faith (Various Churches of Louisiana) We believe in one true and living God, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments are the Word of God and the only rule of faith and practice. We believe in the doctrine of election and that God chose His people before the foundation of the world. We believe in the doctrine of original sin. We believe in man's impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in by nature, by his own free will and ability. We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God, only by the imputed righteousness of Christ. We believe that God's elect shall be called, regenerated, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We believe that the saints shall be preserved in grace and never fall finally away. We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ, and that true believers are the only subjects of baptism, and that immersion is the apostolic mode. We believe that as our Lord and Saviour washed His disciples' feet, we ought to wash one another's feet. We believe in the resurrection of the dead and in a general judgment, and that the felicity of the righteous will be eternal and the punishment of the wicked everlasting. We believe that no minister has any right or administration of the ordinances, only such as are regularly baptized, called, and come under the imposition of hands by a presbytery. We believe that none but regularly baptized members have a right to commune at the Lord's Table.

THE LONDON CONFESSION OF FAITH (an excerpt)

To The Judicial and Impartial Reader Courteous Reader: It is now many years since divers of us (with other sober Christians then living, and walking in the way of the Lord, that we profess) did conceive ourselves to be under a necessity of publishing a Confession, of our Faith, for the information and satisfaction of those that did not thoroughly understand what our principles were, or had entertained prejudices against our profession, by reason of the strange representation of them by some men of note who had taken very wrong measures, and accordingly led others into misapprehension of us and them. And this was first put forth about the year 1643, in the name of seven congregations then gathered in London; since which time divers impressions thereof have been dispersed abroad, and our end proposed in good measure answered, inasmuch as many (and some of those men eminent both for piety and learning) were thereby satisfied that we were no way guilty of those heterodoxies and fundamental errors which had too frequently been charged upon us without ground or occasion given on our part. And forasmuch as that Confession is not now commonly to be had, and also that many others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein, it was judged necessary by us to join together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adhering to those wholesome principles by the publication of this which is now in your hand. And forasmuch as our method and manner of expressing our sentiments in this doth vary from the former (although the substance of this matter is the same), we shall freely impart to you the reason and occasion thereof. One thing that greatly prevailed with us to undertake this work was (not only to give a full account of ourselves to those Christians that differ from us about the subject of baptism, but also) the profit that might from thence arise unto those that have any account of our labors in their instruction and establishment in the great truths of the Gospel, in the clear understanding and steady belief of which our comfortable walking with God, and fruitfulness before him in all our ways, is most nearly concerned; and therefore we did conclude it necessary to express ourselves the more fully and distinctly; and also to fix on such a method as might be most comprehensive of those things we designed to explain our sense and belief of; and finding no defect in this regard in that fixed on by the Assembly, and, after them by those of the congregational way, we did readily conclude it best to retain the same order in our present Confession; and also when we observed that those last mentioned did in their Confessions (for reasons which seemed of weight both to themselves and others) choose not only to express their mind in words concurrent with the former in sense concerning all those articles wherein they were agreed, but also for the most part without any variation of the terms, we did in like manner conclude it best to follow their example in making use of the very same words with them both in these articles (which are very many) wherein our faith and doctrine are the same with theirs; and this we did the more abundantly to manifest our consent with both in all the fundamental articles of the Christian religion, as also with many others whose orthodox Confessions have been published to the world on the behalf of the Protestant in diverse nations and cities. And also to convince all that we have no itch to clog religion with new words, but do readily acquiesce in that form of sound words which hath been, in consent with the Holy Scriptures, used by others before us; hereby declaring, before God, angels, and men, our hearty agreement with them in that wholesome Protestant doctrine which, with so clear evidence of Scriptures, they have asserted. Some things, indeed, are in some places added, some terms omitted, and some few changed; but these alterations are of that nature as that we need not doubt any charge or suspicion of unsoundness in the faith from any of our brethren upon the account of them. In those things wherein we differ from others we have expressed ourselves with all candor and plainness, that none might entertain jealousy of aught secretly lodged in our breasts that we would not the world should be acquainted with; yet we hope we have also observed those rules of modesty and humility as will render our freedom in this respect inoffensive, even to those whose sentiments are different from ours. We have also taken care to affix texts of Scripture at the bottom, for the confirmation of each article in our Confession; in which work we have studiously endeavored to select such as are most clear and pertinent for the proof of what is asserted by us; and our earnest desire is that all into whose hands this may come would follow that (never enough commended) example of the noble Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily that they might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not. There is one thing more which we sincerely profess and earnestly desire credence in - viz., that contention is most remote from our design in all that we have done in this matter; and we hope that the liberty of an ingenuous unfolding our principles and opening our hearts unto our brethren, with the Scripture grounds of our faith and practice will by none of them be either denied to us, or taken ill from us. Our whole design is accomplished if we may have attained that justice as to be measured in our principles and practice, and the judgment of both by others, according to what we have now published, which the Lord (whose eyes are as a flame of fire) knoweth to be the doctrine which with our hearts we most firmly believe and sincerely endeavor to conform our lives to. And O that, other contentions being laid asleep, the only care and contention of all upon whom the name of our blessed Redeemer is called might for the future be to walk humbly with their God in the exercise of all love and meekness toward each other, to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, each one endeavoring to have his conversation such as becometh the gospel; and also, suitable to his place and capacity, vigorously to promote in others the practice of true religion and undefiled in the sight of God our Father! And that in this backsliding day we might not spend our breath in fruitless complaints of the evils of others, but may every one begin at home, to reform in the first place our own hearts and ways, and then to quicken all that we may have influence upon to the some work, that if the will of God were so, none might deceive themselves by resting in and trusting to a form of godliness without the power of it, and inward experience of the efficacy of those truths that are professed by them. And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed. May not the gross ignorance and instability of many, with the profaneness of others, be justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way wherein they ought to walk when they were young, but have neglected those frequent and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them, so to catechise and instruct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures; and also by their own omission of prayer and other duties of religion of their families, together with the ill example of their loose conversation, having, inured them first to a neglect and the contempt of all piety and religion? We know this will not excuse the blindness and wickedness of any, but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have been thus the occasion thereof; they indeed die in their sins, but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were, who yet permitted them to go on without warning - yea, led them into the paths of destruction? And will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties in ages past rise up in judgment against and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now? We shall conclude with our earnest prayer that the God of all grace will pour out those measures of his Holy Spirit upon us, that the profession of truth may be accompanied with the sound belief and diligent practice of it by us, that his name may in all things be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1 Of the Holy Scriptures 1. The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience, (1) although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation.(2) Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His church; (3) and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.(4) 1. 2Ti 3:15-17; Isa 8:20; Lk 16:29,31; Eph 2:20. 2. Ro 1:19-21; 2:14-15; Ps 19:1-3. 3. Heb 1:1. 4. Pr 22:19-21; Ro 15:4; 2Pe 1:19-20. 2. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these: Of the Old Testament Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Of the New Testament Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.(5) 5. 2Ti 3:16. 3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.(6) 6. Lk 24:27,44; Ro 3:2. 4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God(who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.(7) 7. 2Pe 1:19-21; 2Ti 3:16; 2Th 2:13; 1Jn 5:9. 5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole(which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.(8) 8. Jn 16:13-14; 1Co 2:10-12, 1Jn 2:20,27. 6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.(9) Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word,(10) and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.(11) 9. 2Ti 3:15-17; Gal 1:8-9. 10. Jn 6:45; 1Co 2:9-12. 11. 1Co 11:13-14; 14:26,40. 7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;(12) yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.(13) 12. 2Pe 3:16. 13. Ps 19:7; 119:130. 8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old),(14) and the New Testament in Greek(which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.(15) But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read(16) and search them,(17) therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar[ie. common] language of every nation unto which they come,(18) that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship of Him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.(19) 14. Ro 3:2. 15. Isa 8:20. 16. Ac 15:15. 17. Jn 5:39. 18. 1Co 14:6,9,11-12,24,28. 19. Col 3:16. 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.(20) 20. 2Pe 1:20-21; Ac 15:15-16. 10. The supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally resolved.(21) 21. Mt 22:29,31-32; Eph 2:20; Ac 28:23. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2 Of God and of the Holy Trinity 1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;(1) whose subsistence is in and of Himself,(2) infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself;(3) a most pure spirit,(4) invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;(5) who is immutable,(6) immense,(7) eternal,(8) incomprehensible, almighty,(9) every way infinite, most holy,(10) most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will(11) for His own glory; (12) most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,(13) and withal most just and terrible in His judgements,(14) hating all sin,(15) and who will by no means clear the guilty.(16) 1. 1Co 8:4,6; Dt 6:4. 2. Jer 10:10; Isa 48:12. 3. Ex 3:14. 4. Jn 4:24. 5. 1Ti 1:17; Dt 4:15-16. 6. Mal 3:6. 7. 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:23. 8. Ps 90:2. 9. Ge 17:1. 10. Isa 6:3. 11. Ps 115:3; Isa 46:10. 12. Pr 16:4; Ro 11:36. 13. Ex 34:6-7; Heb 11:6. 14. Ne 9:32-33. 15. Ps 5:5-6. 16 Ex 34:7; Na 1:2-3. 2. God, having all life,(17) glory,(18) goodness,(19) blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,(20) but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,(21) and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleaseth;(22) in His sight all things are open and manifest,(23) His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain:(24) He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,(25) and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship,(26) service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them. 17. Jn 5:26. 18. Ps 148:13. 19. Ps 119:68. 20. Job 22:2-3. 21. Ro 11:34-36. 22. Da 4:25,34-35. 23. Heb 4:13. 24. Eze 11:5; Ac 15:18. 25. Ps 145:17. 26. Rev 5:12-14. 3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, (27) of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided,(28) the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;(29) the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son;(30) all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence upon Him. 27. 1Jn 5:7; Mt 28:19; 2Co 13:14. 28. Ex 3:14; Jn 14:11; 1Co 8:6. 29. Jn 1:14,18. 30. Jn 15:26; Gal 4:6. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Of God's Decree 1. God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever come to pass;(1) yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;(2) nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established;(3) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.(4) 1. Isa 46:10; Eph 1:11; Heb 6:17; Ro 9:15,18. 2. Jas 1:13; 1Jn 1:5. 3. Ac 4:27-28; Jn 19:11. 4. Nu. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5. 2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions,(5) yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.(6) 5. Ac 15:18. 6. Ro 9:11,13,16,18. 3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ,(7) to the praise of His glorious grace;(8) others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice.(9) 7. 1Ti 5:21; Mt 25:34. 8. Eph 1:5-6. 9. Ro 9:22-23; Jude 4. 4. These angels and men thus predestined and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.(10) 10. 2Ti 2:19; Jn 13:18. 5. Those of mankind that are predestined to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love,(11) without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.(12) 11. Eph 1:4,9,11; Ro 8:30; 2Ti 1:9; 1Th 5:9. 12. Ro 9:13,16; Eph 2:5,12. 6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto;(13) wherefore they who are elect, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,(14) are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,(15) and kept by His power through faith unto salvation;(16) neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.(17) 13. 1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13. 14. 1Th 5:9-10. 15. Ro 8:30; 2Th 2:13. 16. 1Pe 1:5. 17. Jn 10:26; 17:9; 6:64. 7. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yeilding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; (18) so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,(19) reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,(20) diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.(21) 18. 1Th 1:4-5; 2Pe 1:10. 19. Eph 1:6; Ro 11:33. 20. Ro. 11:5-6,20. 21. Lk 10:20. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Waldensian Confession of Faith of 1120 and 1544

Waldenses Confession of 1120 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 flesh on certain days, and such like things, but above all, the masses. 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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Articles of Faith

At the bottom of this page is a copy of the London Confession of Faith and the Waldensian Confession of Faith, both of these documents were instrumental in the development of the below Articles of Faith.