Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

B

XXVII. Of Baptifm.

Aptifin is not only a Sign of Profeffion, and Mark of Difference, whereby Chriftian Men are difcerned from others that be not chriftened; but it is alfo a Sign of Regeneration, or New Birth, whereby, as by an Inftrument, they that receive Baptifm rightly, are grafted into the Church; the Promifes of the Forgiveness of Sin, and of our Adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are vifibly figned and, fealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increase by Virtue of Prayer unto God. The Baptifm of young Children is in any wife to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the Institution of Christ.

XXVIII Of the Lords Supper.

THE Supper of the Lord is not only a Sign of the Love that Chriftians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Chrifts 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.

Tranfubftantiation, or the Change of the Substance of Bread and Wine in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but it is repugnant to the plain Words of Scripture, overthroweth the Nature of a Sacrament, and hath given Occafion to many Superititions.

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 received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith.

The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Chrifts Ordinance referved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped, XXIX. Of the Wicked, which eat not the Body of Chrift in the Ufe of the Lords Supper.

TH

HE Wicked, and fuch as be void of a lively Faith, although they do carnally and visibly prefs with their Teeth, as Saint Augustine 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 Sign or Sacrament of fo great a Thing,

The

XXX. Of both Kinds.

HE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Laypeople for both the parts of the Lords Sacrament, by Chrifts Ordinance and Commandment, ought to be Miniftered to all Chriftian men alike.

XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Chrift finished upon the Cross. HE Offering of Chrift once made, is that perfect Re

TH demption, Propitiation, and Satisfaction for all the

fins of the whole world, both Original and Actual, and there is none other Satisfaction for fin, but that alone. Wherefore the Sacrifice of Maffes, in the which it was commonly faid that the Prieft did offer Chriit for the quick and the dead, to have remiffion of pain or guilt, were blafphemous Fables, and dangerous Deceits.

B'

XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests.

Ifhops, Priefts, and Deacons, are not commanded by Gods Law, either to vow the Eftate of fingle life, or to obftain from Marriage: therefore it is lawlul for them, as for all other Chriftian men, to Marry at their own difcretion, as they fhall judge the fame to ferve better to godliness. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Perfons, how they are to be avoided. THAT HAT Perfon 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 Penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath Authority

thereunto.

IT

XXXIV. of the Traditions of the Church.

T is not neceff.ry that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all Places one, or utterly like; for at all Times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the Diversity of Countries, Times, and Mens Manners, fo that nothing be ordained against Gods Word. Whofoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purpofely doth openly break the Traditions end 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 other may fear to do the like, as he

that

that offendeth against the common Order of the Church, and hurteth the Authority of the Magiftrate, and woundeth the Confciences 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 Mans Authority; fo that all Things be done to edifying.

XXXV. Of Homilies.

HE fecond Book of Homilies, the feveral Titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholefome doctrine, and neceffary for thefe Times, as doth the Former Book of Homilies, which were fet forth in the Time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and diftinctly, that they be underftanded of the People.

Of the Names of the Homilies.

1 OF the right Ufe of the Church.

2 Against Peril of Idolatry.

3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches.

4 Of good Works: First of Fafting.

5 Against Gluttony and Drunknness. 6 Aganft Excess of Apparel,

7 Of Prayer.

8 Of the Place and time of prayer.

9 That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be Miniftered in a known Tongue.

10 Of the Reverent Estimation of Gods Word.

11 Of Alms doing.

12 Of the Nativity of Chrift.

13 Of the Paffion of Chrift.

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 State of Matrimony.

19 Of Repentance.

20 Against Idleness.

21 Against Rebellion.

THE

XXXVI. Of Confecration of Bishops and Minifters.

TH

HE Book of Confecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately fet forth in the Time of Edward the Sixth, and 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 itself is fuperftitious and ungodly. And therefore whofoever are Confecrated or Ordered according to the Rites of that Book, fince the Second Year of the forenamed King Edward, unto this Time, or hereafter shall be Confecrated or Ordered according to the fame Rites we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully Confecrated and Ordered

THE

XXXVII of the Civil Magiftrates.

[ocr errors]

HE Queens Majefty hath the chief Power in this Realm of England, and other Her 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 fubject to any foreign Jurifdiction.

Where we attribute to the Queens 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 Gods Word, or of the Sacraments; the which Thing the Injunctions alfo lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do molt plainly teftify; but that only Prerogative which we fee to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is, that they should rule all Eftates and Degrees committed to their Charge by God, whether they be Ecclefiaftical or Temporal, and reftrain with the Civil Sword the ftubborn and evil Doers.

The Bishop of Rome hath no Jurifdiction in this Realm of England.

The Laws of this Realm may punish Chriftian Men with Death, for heinous and grievous Offences.

It is lawful for Chriftian Men, at the Comman iment of the Magiftrate, to wear Weapons, and ferve in the Wars.

THE

XXXVIII. Of Chriftian Mens Goods, which are not common: THE Riches and Goods of Chriftians are not common, ΤΗ as touching the Right, Title, and Poffeffion of the fame, as certain Anabaptifts do falfely boast. Notwithitanding, every Man ought, of fuch Things as he poffeffeth, liberally to give Alms to the Poor, according to his Ability.

A

XXXIX Of a Chriftian Mans Oath.

S we confefs, that vain and rash Swearing is forbidden Christian Men by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and James his Apoftle; fo we judge, that Chriftian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a Man may fwear, when the Magiftrate requireth, in a Caufe of Faith and Charity; fo it be aune according to the Prophets teaching, in Juftice, Judgment and Truth.

The RATIFICATION.

THIS Book of Articles, before rebearfed, is again approved, end allowed to be bolden and executed within the Realm, by the affent and confent of our Sovereign Lady LIZABETH, 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 Subfcription of the bands of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Upper House, and by the Subfcription of the whole Clergy of the nether boufe in their Convocation in the Year of our Lord 1571.

O

« ZurückWeiter »