Of Predestination and the Eternal Providence of God
The pure and true doctrine of our churches concerning this article:
I. That Christ has died for all men, and as the Lamb of God has borne the sins of the whole world.
II. That God created no one for condemnation, but will have all men to be saved, and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. [Therefore] He commands all to hear His Son Christ in the Gospel, and promises
by it [through such hearing] the power and working of the Holy Ghost for conversion and salvation.
III. That many men are condemned [perish] by their own guilt, who are either unwilling to hear the
Gospel of Christ, or again fall from grace, [whether] by error against the foundation or by sins against
conscience.
Visitation Articles
IV. That all sinners who repent are received into grace, and no one is excluded, even though his sins were
as scarlet, since God’s mercy is much greater than the sins of all the world, and God has compassion on
all His works.
False and Erroneous Doctrine of the Calvinists
Concerning the Holy Supper:
I. That the words of Christ cited above are to be understood in a figurative way, and not as they read.
II. That in the Supper there are only bare signs, the body of Christ, however, being as far from the bread
as the highest heaven is from the earth.
III. That Christ is present there only by His power and working, and not with His body, just as the sun is
present and efficacious here below on earth by its brilliancy and working, while the sun itself is above in
the sky.
IV. That it is a typicum corpus, a figurative body, which is only signified and prefigured [by the bread
and wine].
V. That it is received by faith alone, which soars [elevates itself] into heaven, and not orally.
VI. That only the worthy receive it; the unworthy, however, who have not such faith as can ascend into
heaven receive nothing but bread and wine.
False and Erroneous Doctrine of the Calvinists
Concerning the Person of Christ,
which conflicts especially with the Third and Fourth Articles of the pure doctrine:
I. In the first place, that the expression, “God is man,” and, “Man is God,” is figurative.
II. That the human nature has communion with the divine not in deed and truth, but only in name and
words.
III. That it is impossible for God, with all His omnipotence, to cause the natural body of Christ to be at
the same time [simultaneously and instantaneously] in more than one place.
IV. That by His exaltation Christ, according to His human nature, has received only created gifts and
finite power, and neither knows nor can do all things.
V. That Christ, according to His human nature, rules absently, just as the King of Spain rules the new
islands.
VI. That it is damnable idolatry if the confidence and faith of the heart is placed in Christ not only
according to His divine, but also according to His human nature, and the honor of adoration is directed to
it [to both natures].
False and Erroneous Doctrine of the Calvinists
Visitation Articles
Concerning Holy Baptism:
I. That Baptism is an outward washing of water, whereby an inner washing [ablution] from sins is only
signified.
II. That Baptism neither works nor confers regeneration, faith, the grace of God, and salvation, but only
signifies and seals these.
III. That not all who are baptized with water but only the elect, receive therewith the grace of Christ or
the gift of faith.
IV. That regeneration occurs not in and at [with] Baptism, but not till afterwards in adult years, and in
some [many] not until old age.
V. That salvation depends not upon Baptism, and accordingly emergency baptism [baptism in case of
necessity] should not be permitted in the Church, but if the service of the Church [of the ordinary
ministry of the Church] cannot be obtained, the child should be allowed to die without Baptism.
VI. That children of Christians are holy before Baptism and from their mothers’ wombs; yea, that while
still in their mothers’ wombs they are [established] in the covenant of eternal life; otherwise holy
Baptism could not be administered to them.
False and Erroneous Doctrine of the Calvinists
Concerning Predestination and the Providence of God:
I. That Christ died, not for all men, but only for the elect.
II. That God created the greater part of men for eternal condemnation, and is unwilling that they be
converted and saved.
III. That the elect and regenerate cannot lose faith and the Holy Ghost and be condemned, even though
they commit great sins and crimes of every kind.
IV. That they who are not elect must be condemned, and cannot attain salvation, even though they be
baptized a thousand times and daily go to the Lord’s Supper, and also live in as holy and irreproachable a
way as ever possible.