Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith. : XX. Of the Authority of the Church. HE Church hath power to nies, and Authority in Con troverfies of Faith and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is con+ trary to God's Word written; neither may it fo expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another. Where fore although the Church be a Witness and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the fame, fo befides the fame ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for neceflity of falvation. XXI. Of the Authority of General Eneral Councils may not be Councils. XXIII. Of miniftering in the is not lawful for any man Ito take upon him the Office of publick preaching, or miniCongregation, before he be lawfully called and fent to execute the fame. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and fent which be chofen and called to this work by men who have publick authority given unto them in the congregation to call and fend Minifters into the Lord's vineyard. XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in fuck a Tongue as the People underfanderb T is a thing plainly repug nant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church, to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to minifter the Sacraments, in a Tongue not Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to fay, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being fuch as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the Apoftles, partly are ftates of BAP life allowed in the Scriptures: XXVII. Of Baptifm. The Sacraments were not ordained of Chrift to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly ufe them. And in fuch only, as worthily receive the fame, they have a wholefome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul faith, XXVI. Of the unworthiness of the Word and Sacraments: yet evil men. Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the difcipline of the Church, that enquiry be made of evil Minifters, and that they be accufed by thofe that have knowledge of their Offences: and finally being found guilty, by juft judgement be depofed. Aptifm is not only a fign of profeffion, and mark of difference, whereby Chriftian men are difcerned from others that be not chriftened but it is alfo a fign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whereby, as by an inftrument, they that receive Baptifm rightly are grafted into the Church: the promises of the forgivenefs of fin, and of our adoption to be the fons of God by the Holy Ghost, are vifibly figned and fealed; faith is confirmed, and grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptifm of young Children is in any wife to tained in the Church, as moft agreeable with the institution of Chrift. re XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper, Tot only a fign of the love HE Supper of the Lord is that Chriftians ought to have among themfelves one to an other; but rather is a Sacra ment of our redemption by Chrift's death: Infomuch, that to fuch as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the fame, the bread which we break, is a partaking of the body of Chrift and likewife the cup of bleffing is a partaking of the blood of Chrift. 1 Tranfubftantiation (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 of Scripture, over. throweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occafion to many fuperftitions. The Body of Chrift is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Chrift is is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Chrift's or dinance referved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.. XXIX. Of the wicked, which do not eat the body of Chrift in the ufe of the Lord's Supper. HE wicked, and fuch as T be void of a lively faith, although they do carnally and vifibly prefs with their teeth (as Saint Auguftine faith) the Sacrament of the body and blood of Chrift; yet in no wife are they partakers of Chrift: but rather, to their condemnation, do eat and drink the fign or Sacrament of fo great a thing. XXX. Of both kinds. To be denied to the LayHE Cup of the Lord is not people for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Chrift's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Chriftian men alike. XXXI. Of the one oblation of Chrift finished upon the Cross. HE Offering of Chrift once Tmade, is that perfect Redemption, Propitiation, and Satisfaction for all the fins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other fatisfaction for fin, but that alone. Wherefore the facrifice of Maffes, in the which it was commonly faid, that the Prieft did offer Chrift for the quick and the dead, to have remiffion of pain or guilt, were blafphe mous fables, and dangerous de ceits. XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. IT is not neceffary that Tradi all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diverfities of countries, times, and men's manners, fo that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whofoever through his private judgement, willingly and pur pofely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not re pugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly (that other may fear to do the like) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magiftrate, and woundeth the confciences of the weak tions and Ceremonies be in brethren. Every particular or national Church hath authority to or dain, change, and abolith ce remonies remonies or rites of the Church, ordained only by man's authority, fo that all things be done to edifying. 5. Against Gluttony and Drunkenness. 6. Against Excefs of Apparel. of Prayer. 6. of the Place and Time of Prayer. 9. That Common Prayer and Sacraments ought to be minifered in a known tongue. 10. Of the reverend Eftimation of God's Word. 11. Of Alms-doing. 12. Of the Nativity of Chrift. 13. Of the Poffion of Christ. 14. Of the Refurrection of Chrift. 15. Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Chrift. 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghoft. 17. For the Rogation-days. 18. Of the ftate of Matrimony. 19. Of Repentance. 20. Against Idleness. 21. Against Rebellion, XXXVI. Of the Confecration of Bi fhops and Minifters. THE Book of Confecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priefts and time of Edward the Sixth, and Deacons, lately fet forth in the confirmed at the fame time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things, neceffary to fuch Confecration and Ordering neither hath it any thing that of itfelf is fuperftitious and ungod ly. And therefore whofoever are confecrated or ordered according to the rites of that Book, fince the fecond year of the forenamed King Edward, unto this time, or hereafter fhall be confecrated or ordered according to the fame rites; we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully confecrated and ordered. XXXVII. Of the Civil Magi firates. THE King's Majefty hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other his dominions, unto whom the chief government of all eftates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclefiaftical or Civil, in all caufes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be subject to any foreign Jurifdiction. Where we attribute to the King's Majefty the chief government, by which titles we understand the minds of fome flanderous folks to be offended: we give not to our Princes the miniftering either of God's Word, or of Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions alfo lately fet forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly teftify: But that only prerogative which we fee to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himfelf: that is, that they should rule THE RATIFICATION. THIS Book of Articles before rehearsed, is again approved, and allowed to be holden and executed within this Realm, by the affent and confent 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 fubfcription of the hands of the Archbishops and BiShops of the upper house, and by the fubfcription of the whole Clergy of the nether boufe in their Convocation, in the Year of our Lord 1517. |