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T is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of 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

Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to 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.

ALTHOUGH in the visible Church 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.

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.

XXVII. Of Baptism.

XXX. Of both kinds.

B APTISM, is not only a sign of pro- THE Cup of the Lord is not to be

denied to the 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.

fession, and mark of difference, 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,HE 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

Offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption, propitiation, 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.

much that to such as rightly, worthily, BISHOPS, Priests, and Deacons, are

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 of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.

The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.

XXIX. Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use of the Lord's Supper.

HE Wicked, and such as be void of a lively faith, although they do carnally and visibly press with their teeth (as Saint Augustine saith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ: but rather, to their condemnation, do eat and drink the sign or Sacrament of so great a thing.

not commanded by God's Law, 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.

HAT

cation of the Church is rightly cut THA person which by open denun

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

I and Ceremonies be in all places one,

and utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries,

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

to be rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.

Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, ceremonies or rites of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying.

XXXV. Of the Homilies.
HE second Book of Homilies, the

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 law

THE Book of Homilies, the all such to rated order.

joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine, and

XXXVII. Of the Civil Magistrates

necessary for these times, as doth the THE Queen's Majesty hath the chief

former Book of 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 Sacra-
ments ought to be ministered in a
known tongue.

10 Of the reverend estimation of God's
Word.

11 Of Alms-doing.

12 Of the Nativity of Christ.
13 of the Passion of Christ.

14 Of the Resurrection of Christ.
15 of the worthy receiving of the Sacra-
ment of the Body and Blood of
Christ.

16 Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
17 For the Rogation-days.

18 Of the state of Matrimony.
19 Of Repentance.
20 Against Idleness.
21 Against Rebellion.

XXXVI. of Consecration of Bishops and

Ministers.

HE Book of Consecration of Arch

Tbishops and Bishops, and Ordering

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.

HE Riches and Goods of Christians

Tricot common, as touching the

right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast.

Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such

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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.

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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.
34. Of the Traditions of the Church.
35. Of the Homilies.

36. Of Consecrating of Ministers.
37. Of Civil Magistrates.
38. Of Christian men's Goods.
39. Of a Christian man's Oath.

THE END.

London: Printed by WILLIAM CLOWES and SONS, Stamford Street.

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