"Christianity is a divine revelation, communicated to mankind through Christ; its saving truths are to be learned from the Bible _and tradition_, the former having been written, _and the latter maintained uncorrupted_ through the influence of the Holy Spirit; _the interpretation of the Bible belongs to the Church, which is taught by the Holy Spirit_, but every believer may read the Scriptures. "According to the Christian revelation, God is a trinity, that is, the divine essence exists in three persons, perfectly equal in nature and dignity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; THE HOLY GHOST PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER ONLY. Besides the triune God, there is no other object of divine worship, _but homage_ ([Greek: hyperdoulia]) _may be paid to the Virgin Mary, and reverence_ ([Greek: doulia]) _to the saints and to their pictures and relics_. "Man is born with a corrupt bias, which was not his at creation; the first man, when created, possessed IMMORTALITY, PERFECT WISDOM, AND A WILL REGULATED BY REASON. Through the first sin, Adam and his posterity lost IMMORTALITY, AND HIS WILL RECEIVED A BIAS TOWARDS EVIL. In this natural state, man, who, even before he actually sins, is a sinner before God by original or inherited sin, commits manifold actual transgressions; _but he is not absolutely without power of will towards good, and is not always doing evil_. "Christ, the Son of God, became man in two natures, which internally and inseparably united make One Person, and, according to the eternal purpose of God, has obtained for man reconciliation with God and eternal life, inasmuch as he, by his vicarious death has made satisfaction to God for the world's sins; and this satisfaction was PERFECTLY COMMENSURATE WITH THE SINS OF THE WORLD. Man is made partaker of reconciliation in spiritual regeneration, which he attains to, being led and kept by the Holy Ghost. This divine help is offered _to all men without distinction, and may be rejected_. In order to attain to salvation, man is justified, and, when so justified, CAN DO NO MORE THAN THE COMMANDS OF GOD. He may fall from this state of grace through mortal sin.