is engendered of the offspring of
Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness,
and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.

"8. The condition of man, after the fall of Adam, is such, that he
cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and
works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power
to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the
grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good
will, and working with us when we have that good will.

"9. We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own
works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith
only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.

"10. Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and
follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure
the severity of God's judgments, yet are they pleasing and
acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively
faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently
known, as a tree is discerned by its fruit.

"11. Voluntary works, being over and above God's commandments,
which are called works of supererogation, cannot be taught without
arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not
only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but they do
more for his sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ
saith plainly, 'When ye have done all that is commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants.'

"12. Not every sin willingly committed after justification, is the
sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant
of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after
justification; after we have received the Holy Ghost, we may
depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of
God, rise again, and amend our lives. And, therefore, they are to
be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live
here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

"13. The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful
men, in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments
duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those
things that of