Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/21

 tree; and  that  by  this  transgression  of  Adam  we  are all born  in  sin,  and  must  have  been  lost  for  ever,  if  God  had not sent  us  a  Saviour.

4. We  are  bound  to  believe  in  this  Saviour  of  all  mankind, Jesus Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  true  God,  and  true  man;  perfect God  from  all  eternity,  equal  to  his  Father  in  all  things; and perfect  man,  from  the  time  of  his  coming  down  from heaven for  us,  having  a  body  and  soul  like  us.

5. We  must  believe  that  this  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour, who had  been  long  foretold  by  the  prophets,  was,  at  God's appointed  time,  conceived  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary, by the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  without  having  any  man  for his father,  and  was  born  of  her,  she  still  remaining  a  pure virgin: that,  during  the  time  of  his  mortal  life,  he  founded  the Christian religion  by  his  heavenly  doctrine  and  wonderful miracles, and  then  offered  himself  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of the  whole  world,  by  dying  upon  a  cross,  to  purchase  mercy, grace, and  salvation,  for  us;  and  that  neither  mercy,  nor grace, nor  salvation,  either  can,  or  ever  could,  since  Adam's fall,  be  obtained  any  otherwise  than  through  this  death  and passion of  the  Son  of  God.

6. We  must  believe  that  Jesus  Christ,  after  he  had  been dead and  buried  for  part  of  three  days,  rose  again  on  the third day  from  death  to  life,  never  to  die  any  more;  and that, for  the  space  of  forty  days,  he  was  pleased,  at  different times, to  manifest  himself  to  his  disciples,  and  then  ascended into heaven  in  their  sight;  where,  as  man,  he  continually  intercedes for  us. From thence  he  sent  down  the  Holy  Ghost upon his  disciples,  to  abide  with  them  for  ever,  as he  had promised, and  to  guide  them  and  their  successors  into  all truth.

7. We  must  believe  the  Catholic  or  universal  Church  of Christ,  of  which  he  is  the  perpetual  Head,  and  his  Spirit  the perpetual Director;  which  is  founded  upon  a  rock,  and  is ever  victorious  over  all  the  powers  of  death  and  hell. This Church is  always  one,  by  all  its  members  professing  one  faith, in one  communion,  under  one  chief  pastor,  succeeding  St. Peter,  to  whom  Christ  committed  his  whole  flock;  St.  John xxi. 15, 16,  17.  This  same  Church  is  always  holy,  by  teaching a  holy  doctrine,  by  inviting  all  to  a  holy  life,  and  by  the eminent holiness  of  many  of  her  children. She is  Catholic, or universal,  by  subsisting  in  all  ages,  by  teaching  all  nations, and maintaining  all  truth:  she  is  apostolical,  by  deriving  her