ME Articles of Faith

In the period of Middle English, there was a trend of writing statements of belief. One example is the Ayenbite of Inwyt, which was translated from French in the 13^th century. In the early 19^th century, Joseph Smith wrote thirteen articles of faith that are here translated into Middle English.

We beleeue in God þe eternel Fader, and in his sonn, Jhesu Crist, and in þe holi goste.

We beleeue þæt men shuln be punyshide for þeyr particuler synnes, and not for Adames transgressioun.

We beleeue þæt thorow the passhion of Crist, alle man-kende mai be sauyde, bi obedience to the lawe and ordenaunces of þe godspell.

We beleeue þæt the firste prynciples and ordinaunces of the godspell are firste, feith in the lauerd Jhesus Crist secounde, repentaunce, þridde, baptisacion bi immersionne for the remissioun of sennes, ferthe, to blesse for the 3ifte of the holi goste.

We beleeue þæt a man mote be called of God, bi prophecie and bi þe ordynacion, bi þey hwa hafde auctorite to preche the godspell and adminystere in the ordinaunces þerin.

We beleeue in the same organisacioun þæt was in the primitiue chirche, namelich apostles, prophetis, pastours, techeres, euaungelistis and oðres.

We beleeue in the yifte of tonges, prophecie, revelacioun, visionys, halwende, interpretacioun of tonges and oðres.

We beleeue þe Bible to be the worde of God, alls fer alls hit is translateden circumspectly, & also we beleeue þe Boke of Mormon to be the worde of God.

We beleeue alle þæt God reueled haves , alle þæt he presentlye reueles and we beleeue þæt he wyll 3yt reuel mani grete and importante þingan concernyng þe kingdome of God.

We beleeue in the litteral brynging in of Israhel, and in the restoracioun of the x tribus, þæt Zion the Neowe Ierusalem wyll be bulden vpon the newe weorrelld, þæt Crist wyll reule personelly vpon the erthe and þæt þe erthe wyll be renewid and reseiue hit glorie of paradise.

We cleym þe priuelege of wirschiping God Almight-ful, acordynge to þe direccioun of oure particuler conscience and allowe alle men þæt same priuilege, let þem worschippe whare, watte, or in the maner of which þei mai.

We beleeue in being subjecten to kyngis, presidentis, reuleres and magistrates in obeiinge, honouring and susteninge þe lawe.

We beleeue in beyng honeste, trewe, chaste, beniuolente, vertuous, and in renderinge gode to alle men, indeed, we mai say þæt we folwe the amonicioun of Paul—we beleeue alle þingan, we hopye alle þingan, we have enduren mani þingan and hopie to be abel to endour alle þingan. Hif þare is ani þing vertuous, loveli, or of gode reporte or dere-worthi, we seche hafter thise þingan.