GENERAL Councils may not be Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes. And when they be gathered together, (forasmuch as they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God,) they may err, and sometimes have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture. T XXII. Of Purgatory. HE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God. XXIII. Of Ministering in the Congregation. T is not lawful for any man to take IT upon him the office of publick preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. XXIV. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth. I word of God, and the custom of the T is a thing plainly repugnant to the Primitive Church, to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people. XXV. Of the Sacraments. ACRAMENTS ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of SA say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God. The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul saith. XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacrament. the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men. LTHOUGH in the visible Church Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that enquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally being found guilty, by just judgement be deposed. BA XXVII. Of Baptism. XXX. Of both kinds. APTISM is not only a sign of pro- THE Cup of the Lord is not to be fession, and mark of whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ. THE XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper. HE Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: inso denied to Lay-people: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike. XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross. that perfect redemption, propitiaHE Offering of Christ once made is tion, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests. ISHOPS, Priests, and Deacons, are as rightly, worthily, B Lar and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words overthroweth the either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from marriage: therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided. which denun nature of a Sacrament, and hath given Tciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church, and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he be openly reconciled by penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereunto. XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. [T is not necessary that Traditions in places one, and utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever through his private judgement, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordering: neither hath it any thing, that of itself is superstitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that Book, since the second year of the forenamed King Edward unto this time, or hereafter shall be consecrated or ordered according to the same Rites; we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered. XXXVII. Of the Civil Magistrates. necessary for these times, as doth the THE Queen's Majesty bath the chief former Book Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people. Of the Names of the Homilies. 1 OF the right Use of the Church. 2 Against peril of Idolatry. 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches. 4 Of good Works: first of Fasting. 5 Against Gluttony and Drunkenness. 6 Against Excess of Apparel. 7 Of Prayer. 8 Of the Place and Time of Prayer. 9 That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue. 10 of the reverend estimation of God's Word. 20 Against Idleness. 21 Against Rebellion. power in this realm of England, and other her Dominions, unto whom the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign Jurisdiction. Where we attribute to the Queen's Majesty the chief government, by which Titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended; we give not to our Princes the ministering either of God's Word, or of the Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testify; but that only prerogative, which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all states and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers. The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England. The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death, for heinous and grievous offences. It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to wear weapons, and serve in the wars. XXXVIII. Of Christian men's Goods, which are not common. XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bishops and THE Riches and Goods of Christians Ministers. HE Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. XXXIX. Of a Christian man's Oath. AS S we confess that vain and rash Swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Apostle, so we judge, that Christian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the Prophet's teaching, in justice, judgement, and truth. THE RATIFICATION. THIS Book of Articles before rehearsed, is again approved, and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm, by the assent and consent of our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH, by the grace of God, of England, France, and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c. Which Articles were deliberately read, and confirmed again by the subscription of the hands of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Upper-house, and by the subscription of the whole Clergy of the Nether house in their Convocation, in the Year of our Lord 1571. NOTE. ARTICLES of Religion were published, by order of Henry VIII., in the year 1536. They were of that mixed character which it might be expected a summary of faith would assume in the then unsettled state of the Church. In 1552 Edward VI. issued a series of Articles, forty-two in number, and which had been drawn up and signed by the two Houses of Convocation. They afforded a full and clear view of the tenets of the Reformed Church of England. These Articles were set aside in the reign of Mary; but in the year 1562 Queen Elizabeth confirmed the ThirtyNine Articles as agreed upon "by the Archbishops and Bishops of both provinces, and the whole Clergy, in the Convocation holden at London." As they were published only in Latin, the mass of the people could derive from them no additional information respecting the doctrines of their Church. When they were revised, therefore, in 1571, the Convocation signed an English, as well as the Latin, copy of the Articles. Cranmer and Ridley are said to have been chiefly concerned in framing the original sketch of the Articles; but Bishop Burnet expressly observes, that most of the bishops and eminent divines of the day were consulted on the subject, and invited to give their assistance in drawing up this grand statement of doctrine for the national Church. A TABLE OF THE ARTICLES. 1. OF Faith in the holy Trinity. 2. Of Christ the Son of God. 3. Of his going down into Hell. 4. Of his Resurrection. 5. Of the Holy Ghost. 6. Of the Sufficiency of the Scripture. 7. Of the Old Testament. 8. Of the Three Creeds. 9. Of Original or Birth-sin. 10. Of Free-will. 11. Of Justification. 12. Of good Works. 13. Of Works before Justification. 14. Of Works of Supererogation. 15. Of Christ alone without Sin. 16. Of Sin after Baptism. 17. Of Predestination and Election. 18. Of obtaining Salvation by Christ. 19. Of the Church. 20. Of the Authority of the Church. 21. Of the Authority of General Councils. 22. Of Purgatory. 23. Of Ministering in the Congregation. 24. Of Speaking in the Congregation. 25. Of the Sacraments. 26. Of the Unworthiness of Ministers. 27. Of Baptism. 28. Of the Lord's Supper. 29. Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ. 30. Of both kinds. 31. Of Christ's one Oblation. 32. Of the Marriage of Priests. 33. Of Excommunicate Persons. 36. Of Consecrating of Ministers. THE END. London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and Sons, Stamford Street. |
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