The Second Part. 
Of the Gospel and Faith.

      M.  Since now, my dear child, thou hast so much as may be, in a short abridgment, largely answered this matter of the law and obedience, good order requireth that we speak next of the gospel, which containeth the promises of God, and promiseth the mercy of God through Christ to them that have broken God’s law, and to the which gospel faith hath specially respect.  For this was the second point in our division: and this also, the very orderly course of those matters that we have treated of hath as it were brought us by the hand unto.  What is now the sum of the gospel and of our faith?

      S.  Even the same wherein the chief articles of the Christian faith have been in old time briefly knit up and contained, and which is commonly called the Creed or Symbol of the Apostles.

      M.  Why is the sum of our faith called a symbol?

      S.  A symbol by interpretation is a badge, mark, watchword, or token, whereby the soldiers of one side are known from the enemies.  For which cause the short sum of our faith by which the Christians are severally known from them that be not Christians, is rightly called a symbol.

      M.  But why is it called the symbol of the apostles?

      S.  Because it was first received from the apostles’ own mouth, or most faithfully gathered out of their writings, and allowed from the very beginning of the church, and so hath continually remained among all the godly, firm, stedfast, and unmoved, as a sure and staid rule of Christian faith.

      M.  Go to.  I would have thee now rehearse to me the symbol itself?

      S.  I will.  “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; which was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell: the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.”

      M.  These things, my child, thou hast briefly and in short sum set forth.  Wherefore it is good that thou declare more plainly and at large what thou thinkest of every particular.  And first, into how many parts dost thou divide this whole confession of faith?

      S.  Into four principal parts: in the first whereof is entreated of God the Father, and the creation of all things: in the second, of his Son Jesus Christ, which part also containeth the whole sum of the redemption of man: in the third, of the Holy Ghost: in the fourth, of the church, and of the benefits of God towards the church.

      M.  Go forward then to declare me those four parts in order.  And first, in the very beginning of the Creed, what meanest thou by this word “believe”?

      S.  I mean thereby that I have a true and lively faith, that is to say, ^da Christian man’s faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that I do by this form of confession ^etestify and approve the same faith.