the Fruits of Faith, and follow after not to be denied to such as fall into Justification, cannot put away our sin after Baptism. After we have resins, and endure the severity of God's ceived the Holy Ghost, we may deJudgment; yet are they pleasing and part from grace given, and fall into acceptable to God in Christ, and do sin, and by the grace of God (we spring out necessarily of a true and may) arise again, and amend our lively Faith; insomuch that by them lives. And therefore they are to be a lively Faith may be as evidently condemned, which say, they can not known, as a tree discerned by the more sin as long as they live here, or fruit. deny the place of forgiveness to such Art. XIII. Of Works before Jus-as truly repent. tification. Art. XVII. Of Predestination and Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Predestination to life is the everSpirit, are not pleasant to God, foras-lasting purpose of God, whereby (be much as they spring not of faith in fore the foundations of the world were Jesus Christ, neither do they make laid) he hath constantly decreed, by men meet to receive grace, or (as the his counsel, secret to us, to deliver School Authors say) deserve grace of from curse and damnation, those congruity yea rather, for that they whom he hath chosen in Christ out of are not done as God hath willed and mankind, and to bring them by Christ commanded them to be done, we to everlasting salvation, as vessels. doubt not but they have the nature made to honour. Wherefore they, of sin. which he endued with so excellent a Art. XIV. Of Works of Super- benefit of God, he called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working Voluntary Works, besides over and in due season: they through grace above God's Commandments, which obey the calling: they be Justified they call Works of Supererogation, freely: they be made Sons of God by cannot be taught without arrogancy adoption: they be made like the and impiety. For by them men do image of his only begotten Son Jesus declare, That they do not only render Christ: they walk religiously in good unto God as much as they are bound works; and at length by God's mercy to do, but that they do more for his they attain to everlasting felicity. sake than of bounden duty is requir- As the godly consideration of Preed: Whereas Christ saith plainly, destination, and our Election in When ye have done all that are com- Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and manded to you, say, We are unprofit-unspeakable comfort to godly per erogation. sin. sons, and such as feel in themselves able servants. Art. XV. Of Christ alone without the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and Christ in the truth of our nature, their earthly members, and drawing was made like unto us in all things, up their mind to high and heavenly sin only except, from which he was things, as well because it doth greatclearly void, both in his flesh, and in ly establish and confirm their faith his spirit. He came to be a Lamb of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed without spot, who by sacrifice of through Christ, as because it doth himself once made, should take away fervently kindle their love towards the sins of the world; and sin (as St. John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest (although baptized and born again in Christ) yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. God: so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the Sentence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust theni either into desperation, or into wretch. lessness of most unclean living, nu Art. XVI. Of Sin after Baptism. Not every deadly sin willingly com-less perilous than desperation. mitted after Baptism, is sin against Furthermore, we must receive the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. God's Promises in such wise as they Wherefore the grant of repentance is be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: And in our doings, that Art. XVIII. Of obtaining Eternal They are also to be had accursed, that presume to say, that every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diigent to frame his life according to hat Law, and the light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved. vented, and grounded upon no war It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of Public Preaching, or Ministering the Sacramenta 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 public Authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lord's Vineyard. Art. XIX. Of the Church. The visible Church of Christ is a Art. XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation of faithful men, in the Congregation in such a tongue as which the pure Word of God is the People understandeth. preached, and the Sacraments be It is a thing plainly repugnant to duly ministered according to Christ's the Word of God, and the custom of Ordinance, in all those things that the Primitive Church, to have public of necessity are requisite to the same. prayer in the Church, or to minister As the Church of Hierusalem, the Sacraments in a tongue not un Alexandria, and Antioch, have derstanded of the people. erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of faith. Art. XX. Of the Authority of the Art. XXV. Of the Sacraments. Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's Profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effec tual signs of grace, and God's good The Church hath power to decree will towards us, by the which he Rites or Ceremonies, and Authority doth work invisibly in us, and doth in Controversies of Faith: And not only quicken, but also strengthen vet it is not lawful for the Church to and confirm our faith in him. ordain any thing that is contrary to There are two Sacraments ordainGod's Word written; neither may it ed of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, so expound one place of Scripture, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supthat it be repugnant to another. per of the Lord. Wherefore, although the Church be Those five commonly called Sacraa Witness and a Keeper of Holy ments, that is to say, Confirmation, Writ, yet as it ought not to decree Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and any thing against the same, so be- Extreme Unction, are not to be aides the same ought it not to enforce counted for Sacraments of the Gos any thing to be believed for necessity pel, being such as have grown, partly of salvation. of the corrupt following of the Apos tles, partly are states of life allowed by 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. Art. XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils." Art. XXII. Of Purgatory. The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images, as of Reliques, and also Invocation The Sacraments were not ordainof Saints, is a fond thing vainly in-led of Christ to be gazed upon, or to The 21st of the former articles is omitted, because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining part of it, in other articles, be carried about, but that we should ought to have among themselves one duly use them. And in such only to another; but rather it is a Sacra as worthily receive the same, they ment of our Redemption by Christ's have a wholesome effect or operation: death: insomuch that to such as bat they that receive them unwor- rightly, worthily, and with faith rethily, purchase to themselves damna-ceive the same, the Bread which we tion, as St. Paul saith. break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Art. XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the Effect of the Sacraments. Although in the visible Church the Transubstantiation (or the change evil be ever mingled with the good, of the Substance of Bread and Wine) and sometime the evil have chief in the Supper of the Lord, cannot authority in the ministration of the be proved by Holy Writ; but it is Word and Sacraments: yet, for- repugnant to the plain words of asmuch as they do not the same in Scripture, overthroweth the nature of their own name, but in Christ's, and a Sacrament, and hath given occado minister by his Commission and sion to many Superstitions. Authority, we may use their Mi- The Body of Christ is given, taken, nistry, both in hearing the Word of and eaten in the Supper, only after God, and in receiving the Sacra- an heavenly and spiritual manner. ments. Neither is the effect of Christ's And the mean whereby the Body of Ordinance taken away by their Christ is received and eaten in the wickedness, nor the grace of God's Supper, is Faith. gifts diminished from such as by The Sacrament of the Lord's Sup faith, and rightly, do receive the per was not by Christ's Ordinanco Sacraments ministered unto them, reserved, carried about, lifted up, or which be effectual, because of Christ's worshipped. institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men. Nevertheless it appertaineth to the Discipline of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and hat they be accused by those that save knowledge of their offences: and finally being found guilty, by just lgme, be deposed. a Art. XXIX. Of the Wicked, which eat not of the Body of Christ in the Use of the Lord's Supper. The wicked, and such as be void of lively faith, although they do carnally and visibly press with their teeth (as St. Augustine saith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; yet in no wise are they parArt. XXVII. Of Baptism. takers of Christ; but rather to their Baptism is not only a sign of Pro-Condemnation do eat and drink the fession, and mark of Difference, Sign or Sacrament of so great a whereby Christian men are discerned thing. from others that be not christened: Art. XXX. Of both Kinds. but it is also a sign of Regeneration, The Cup of the Lord is not to he or new Birth, whereby, as by an denied to the Lay-People: for both instrument, they that receive Bap-the parts of the Lord's Sacrament tism rightly are grafted into the by Christ's Ordinance and ComChurch: the promises of the forgive-mandment, ought to be ministered to ness of sin, and of our adoption to all Christian men alike. be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, Art. XXXI. Of the one Oblation are visibly signed and sealed faith of Christ finished upon the Cross. is confirmed, and grace increased by The offering of Christ once made, virtue of Prayer unto God. The is that perfect redemption, propitiaBaptism of young children is in any tion, and satisfaction for all the sins wise to be retained in the Church as of the whole world, both original most agreeable with the institution of and actual; and there is none other Christ. Art. XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper. The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the Love that Christians satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the Sacrifice of Masses, in which it was commonly said, tha the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous | Sixth; and therefore we judge them fables, and dangerous deceits. Art. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests. to be read in Churches by the Minis- Of repairing and keeping clean 4. Of good Works: first of Fasting. 5. Against Gluttony and Drunken ness. 6. Against Excess of Apparel. Of Prayer. 7. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, are 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. Art. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided. That person which by open denunciation 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 10. Penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath autho-11. rity thereunto. 12. Art. XXXIV. Of the Traditions 13. of the Church. 14. 8. 9. Of the Place and Time of That Common Prayers and Sa Of the Nativity of Christ. It is not necessary that Traditions 15. and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghat. according to the diversity of countries, 17. For the Rogation-days. times, and men's manners, so that 18. Of the State of Matrimony. nothing be ordained against God's 19. Of Repentance. word. Whosoever, through his pri-20. Against Idleness. vate Judgment, willingly and purpose- 21. Against Rebellion. ly doth openly break the Traditions [This Article is received in this and Ceremonies of the Church, which Church, so far as it declares the be not repugnant to the word of God, books of Homilies to be an explication and be ordainel and approved by of Christian doctrine, and instructive common authority, ought to be re-in piety and morals. But all referenbuked openly, (that other may fear to ces to the constitution and laws of do the like,) as he that offendeth England are considered as inappli against the cominon Order of the cable to the circumstances of this Church, and hurteth the Authority of Church, which also suspends the or the Magistrate, and woundleth the der for the reading of said Homilies in 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. Art. XXXV. Of Homilies. The second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined, under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome Doctrine, and necessary for these Times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Churches until a revision of them may Art. XXXVI. Of Consecration of The Book of Consecration of Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, as set forth by the General Convention of this Church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordering; nei ther hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodly: and herefore, whosoever are consecrated the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought of such things as he pos sesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability. Art. XXXIX. Of a Christian Man's Ŏath. or ordered according to said form, we lecree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered. Art. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil Magistrates. The power of the Civil Magistrate extendeth to all men, as well Clergy as Laity, in all things temporal; but hath no authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay respectful obedi-his Apostle: so we judge that Chris ence to the civil authority, regularly tian Religion doth not prohibit, but and legitimately constituted. that a man may swear when the MaArt. XXXVIII. Of Christian Men's gistrate requireth, in a cause of Goods, which are not common. Faith and Charity, so it be done acThe Riches and Goods of Chris-cording to the Prophet's teaching in tians are not common, as touching Justice, Judgment, and Truth. - As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS, According to the Order of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and Laity of said Church, in General Convention, in the month of September, A. D. 1792. THE PREFACE. It is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Au thors, that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church-Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which Offices were evermore had in such reverend estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the same; and also by Public Prayer, with Imposition of Hands, were approved and admitted thereunto by lawful Authority. And therefore, to the intent that these Ordlers may be continued, and reverently used and esteemed in this Church, no mau shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Dea. con, in this Church, or suffered to execute any of the said Functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereunto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had Episcopal Consecration or Ordination. And none shall be admitted a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop, except he be of th age which the Canon in that case provided may require. And the Bishop knowing, either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, any Person to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime; and, after examination and trial, finding him sufficiently instructed in the holy Scripture, and otherwise learned as the Canons require, may, at the times appointed, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, admit him a Deacon, in such Manner and Form as followeth. The Form and Manner of making Deacons. When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon, or Exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of such as come to be admitted Deacons; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the People ought to teem them in their Office. |