'(v)

1

learned divines of this country may be reckoned Abp. Cranmer, Bp. Parkhurst, Mr. Latimer, Abp. Parker, Bp. Grindal, Abp. Whitgift, Bp. Ridley, and Mr. Gualter, with many others equally celebrated for their piety and abilities ; who assembled and met together at two Convocations held first in the year of our Lord 1562, and again in the reign of our late moft gracious Majesty Queen ELIZABETH in 1571, and again in 1604, and by divine providence they have continued (tho' often shaken) unto this day : May the Lord still continue them, to his glory, and to the good of his , Church and people.

Mr. Rogers has likewise taken much pains to collect together the names of all the particular persons, fects, and denominations, who at first opposed and denied those Articles : a few of them I may occasionalliga no use to us : we have enough well known among us now, to fight against : may the God of all power give us strength and courage to do it, to his Honor and Glory, through Jelus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* As an eminent Gospel Minister of this City has lately enforced upon his hearers, the reading the “39 Articles, I would therefore exhort every one attentively to read the Articles first, before they consult these Notes and Observations upon them.

The Editor.

THE TABLE OF

THE ARTICLES.

Art. 1.

2.

20

26

Å Faith in the Holy Trinity Page 1
Of Christ the Son of God

4
3. Of Christ's going down into Hell
4. Of his Resurrection

7 5. Of the Holy Ghost

9 6. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures, &c. 10 7. Of the Old Testament

IL 8. Of the three Creeds

13, 14 9. Of Original or Birth-lin

17 10. Of Free Will

19 11. Of Justification of Man · 12. Of good Works

*21 13. Of Works before Justification

23 14, Of Works of Supererogation

24 15. Of Christ alone without Sin

25 16. Of Sin after Baptism 17. Of Predestination and Election

27 18. Of obtaining Salvation only by Chril

30 19. Of the Church

31 20. Of the Authority of the Church

32 21. Of the Authority of General Councils

34 22. Of Purgatory

35 23. Of Ministering in the Congregation

37 24. Of speaking in the Congregation 25. Of the Sacraments

39 26. Of the Unworthiness of Ministers

41 27. Of Baptism

43 28. Of the Lord's Supper

44 29. Of the Wicked, which eat not the Body of Christ 45 30. Of both kinds 31. Of Christ's one Oblation

ibid. 32. Of Marriage of Priests

47 33. Of excommunicate Persons

48 34. Of the Traditions of the Church

ibid. 35. Of the Homilies

50 36. Of Consecration of Ministers 37. Of the Civil Magiftrates

53 38. Of Chriftian Men's Goods

55 29. Of a Christian Man's Oath

56

38

46

51

EXPLICATION

OF THE

Thirty-nine ARTICLES, &c.

T

ART. I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.
HERE is but one living and true God, ever-

lasting, without body, parts, or passions ; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

But one living and true God.] “ That there is such a Being, « which we in English call God, (Heb. Elohim) is manifest from 66 the order of causes ; which muft derive its origin from some “ first felf existent cause. From the very idea of notion of a “ God, which implies in itself a necessary existence. From the “ origin and goverment of the world. The heavens and the earth, “ &c. which all declare his glory; Pfal. xix. 1, 4, and from con• fent of all nations, people and languages. The prophecies «s and miracles, both of the Old and New Testament; and like“ wise the witnesses of the apostles, and all the Primitive Fa. or thers, together with many other holy and learned men; who-all

agree, There is but one living and true God." And this is clearly proved from the following Texts of Scripture: 1. God said unto Mofes, I AM that 1 AM, Exod. iii. 14. And thou shalt have none other gods but me. Exod. xx. 3. Deut. xxxii. 39. The Lord our God is one Lord, Deut. vi. 4. And there is none other God beside Jehovah," Deut. iv. 35. Ifa. xliv. 6.- xlv. 5, 6. See also, i Cor. viii. 4, 6. There is but one God, the Father, of wbom are all things, and Eph. iv. 6.-The living God. 2 Cor. vi. 16. The true God. Pfal. lxxxiv. 2. 2 Chron. xv. 3. Jer. X.

А

10. And this (faith St. John) is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God. John xvii, 3. and i Theff. i. 9.

Everlasting. ] “ He is the everlasting God, Gen. xxi. 33. Ila. « lx. 28. without beginning, without end." From everlafing to everlasting, thou art God, Psal. xli. 13. xc. 2. xciii. 2. And everlasting King, Jer. X. 10. who only bath immortality, Heb. i. 8, 12. i Tim. vi. 16. The Alpha and the Omega ; the beginning and the ending, of all Things. Rev, i. 4, 11. And therefore (as St. Paul faith) He that cometh unto God, muft believe shat he is, Heb. xi. 6. The Almighty, Eternal, Invisible self-existent Jehovah, God Almighty, which was, and is, and is 10 come, i Tim. i. 17. Rev, iv. 8.

Without Body] As relative to God the Father, this is undoubtedly true : “ For the form or shape of God is ineffable and inexpres$ fible, and cannot be seen with our bodily eyes.” God is a Spirit, faith our Lord, whom no man bath feen, or can see, for a Spirit bath no body or flesh, see John i, 18. iv. 24. Luke xxiv. 39. and i Tim. vi, 16.

Parts or Paffions, &c.] Impertibilis, Lat. That is incapable of being divided : or paffions, as we in English express it; though the scripture indeed (in condescension to our weak capacities) seems to attribute unto God those members, as Eyes, Ears, Hands, &c. Allo Love, anger, hatred, &c, For 'tis faid, Thar God is angry with the wicked every day, Psal. vii. 11.

God was angly with Mofes and Aaron, Deut. ix. 20. but all this is only spoken to come down to man's weakness, and to his beiter understanding the wonderful works of God. For God is a most simple essence; as by the name Jehovah, in Gen. xv, 7e Amos ix. g. not subject to paslions as man, fee Acts xiv. 14. But immutable, always infinitely happy, admitting of no change, &c. Pfal. cii. 26, 27. and Jam. i. 7. Of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness,) ift,

« His power," all power belongeth unto God, Psal. Ixii. 11. with God all things are poffible, Matt. xix. 26. All things are present before him. --By the Word of his power, (faith St. Clement) were all things made, and by a word he can destroy them; for he is God Almighty. Gen. xxxiv. 11, He can do every thing, saith Job. He killeth, and be maketle alive, Job xlii. 2. Psal. cxv. 3. But be is good to all, and his mercy is ever all his works, Psal. cxlv. 7, 9. Matt. xix. 66. Mark x, 10, Luke xviii. 19, See also Scott's Christian Life, ad part, 242, Rev, MF, Romaine's first discourse on the Apofties. Creed,

The

The maker and preserver of all things.] “ That this World is not eternal, neither did it arise by chance, is plain from scripture." The royal pfalmift says, By the word of the Lord, i.e. Chrift, were the beavens made ; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth, or spirit. Pfalm xxxiii. 6.

Again, “ In the beginning, (i. e. of time) God created the heavens and the earth, the fea, &c. See Gen. i. 1, 4. Psalm cxxiv. 8. “ cxxxiv. 4. and cxlvi. 6. Acts iv: 24:-" The Father by the « Son, or Word, made the worlds :" aud by bim alone were all things created. See 1 Joba i. 2. Col. i. 16, 17. Heb. i. 2, and xi. 3. &c.

And in Unity of this Godhead, there be three Persons, &'] This is that mystery of mysteries which the world, the carnal minded, cannot see, neither will they in any wise believe it; for as St. Paul declareth, 1 Cor. i. 21. The world by wisdom, (their own wil dom) knew not God. But every teachable willing mind, assisted by divine grace, who carefully reads the holy fcriptures, may clearly see and distinguish a Trinity of Persons in the sacred Deity.-In the Old Testament God is frequently stiled Elobim, which signifies plurality; as in Gen, i. 26. Let us make Man in our Image. This plainly denotes a plurality of persons, see also Gen. iii. 1, 5, 13.-2 Sam. chap. vii; but in Ifa. chap. vi. 3. is a stronger proof of a Trinity, where the Angels cried one to another with adoration, Holy ! Holy ! Holy? Lord God of Hoffs ; the Almighty, Rev. iv. 8. In the New Testament nothing is more plain. At the Baptism of Christ, was heard the Father's voice; the Son, present in person ; and the Holy Ghost descending upon him, Matt. iii. 17. Mark i. 10. And by the words of Christ himself, in bis promise to his difciples. See John chap. xiv. 26.XV. 26. See also Aēts i. 4, 8. clearly proves a Trinity ; and St. John says, There be three tbat bear record in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft; and these obree are one, 1 John v. 7.-" In essence “ one ; yet in persons three.” (Nicene Creed) also St. Peter, 2 Pet. i. 17, 18. 21. and again our blessed Lord's own words, when be gave commandment that his gospel should be preached to all nations; saying, " Go teach all nations, and baptize them in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Ghaft, Matt. xxviii. 19. Allo St. Paul, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghofi, be with you all. Amen. A 2

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