enclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth alwayes contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath and damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdome some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin X. Of free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will XI Of the Jâ—stification of man WE are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by faith and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsome doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification XII Of good works ALbeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after Justification cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of Gods judgement yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith in so much that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit XIII Of works before Justification WOrks done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School-authors say deserve grace of congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sin XIV Of works of supererogation VOluntary works besides over and above Gods commandments which they call works of supererogation cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do but that they do more for his sake then of bounden duty is required whereas Christ saith plainly when ye have done all that are commanded to you say we are unprofitable servants XV. Of Christ alone without sin CHrist in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things sin only except from which he was clearly void both in his flesh and in his spirit He came to be a Lamb without spot who by sacrifice of himself once made should take away 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 our selves and the truth is not in us XVI Of sin after Baptisme NOw every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptisme is sin against the Holy Ghost and unpardonable Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after Baptisme After we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from grace given and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives And therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here to deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent XVII Of Predestination and Election PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God whereby before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Wherefore they which be indued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season they through grace obey the calling they be justified freely they be made sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ they walk religiously in good works and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicity As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ is full of sweet pleasant and unspeakable comfort to godly persons and such as feel in themselves the working of the spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God so for curious and carnal persons lacking the spirit of Christ to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination is a most dangerous downfall whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of most unclean living no less perillous then desperation Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings that will of God is to be followed which we have expresly declared unto us in the word of God XVIII Of obtaining eternal salvation only by the Name of Christ THey also are 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 diligent to frame his life according to that 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 XIX Of the Church THe visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christs ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Jerusalem Alexandria and Antioch have erred so also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their living and manner of ceremonies but also in matters of faith XX. Of the authority of the Church THe Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and authority in controversies of faith and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods word written neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another Wherefore although the Church be a witness and a keeper of holy Writ yet as it ought not to decree any
the same to serve better to godlinesse 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 faithfull as an Heathen and Publicane untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereto XXXIV Of the traditions of the Church IT is not necessary 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 so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgment 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 other 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 nationall Church hath authority to ordain change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained onely by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying XXXV Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the severall titles whereof we have joyned 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 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 perill of Idolatry 3 Of the repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparell 7 Of prayer 8 Of the place and time of Prayer 9 That common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known tongue 10 Of the reverent estimation of Gods 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 Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ 16 Of the gifts of the holy Ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimony 19 Of Repentance 20 Against Idlenesse 21 Against rebellion XXXVI Of consecration of Bishops and Ministers THe book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of Priests and Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the sixt 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 it self is superstitious and ungodly And therefore whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to the Rites of that book since the second yeer of the afore-named 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 lawfully consecrated and ordered XXXVII Of the civill Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions unto whom the chief government of all estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Civill in all causes doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any forreign Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief goverment by which Titles we understand the mindes of some slanderous folks to be offended we give not to our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie but that onely prerogative which we see to have been given alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restrain with the civill sword the stubborn and evil doers The Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction in this Realm of England The Lawes of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars XXXVIII Of Christian mens goods which are not common THe riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give almes to the poor according to his ability XXXIX Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charity so it be done according to the Prophets teaching in justice judgment and truth LX. The Ratification 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 Soueraign 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 hand of the Archbishop and Bishops of the upper House and by the subscription of the whole Clergy in the neither House in their Convocation in the yeer of our Lord God 1571. THE END Books Newly Printed Ecclesiae Anglicanae Suspiria The teares sighs complaints and prayers of the Church of England in four Books by J. Gauden D. D. Folio The Refuter Refuted or Dr. Hammonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 defended by a third person 4.
to the same office and ministery of salvation of mankinde we render unto thee most hearty thanks we worship and praise thee and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy Son to grant unto all which either here or elsewhere call upon thy Name that we may shew our selves thankfull to thee for these and all other thy benefits and that we may daily increase and go forwards in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son by the holy Spirit So that aâ— well by these thy Ministers as by tâ—em to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy holy Name may be alwayes glorified and thy blessed kingdom enlarged through the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ which liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same holy Spirit world without end Amen After this prayer the Bishop with the Ministers present did lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that received orders the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees and the Bishop in the name of the rest of the Ministers asisting him in it did say * The sense of these words and the fitness of the use of them here upon this occasion see the late arch Bishop of Armaghs judgment as the neglect in that ordination which gives no power or authority either in these words or any other to the likesense Ordinat of Presby ters p. 136. Receive the holy Ghost whose sins thou doest forgive they are forgiven and whose sins thou doest retain they are retained and be thou a faithfull dispenser of the word of God and of his holy Sacraments In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Amen Then was delivered to every one of them the Bible in his hand the Bishop saying Take thou authority to preach the word of God and to minister the holy Sacraments in the Congregation where thou shalt be so appointed After this was done there was a prayer that the Lord would send upon those persons thus ordained his heavenly blessing that they might be clad about with all justice and that his word spoken by their mouthes may have such successe that it may never be spoken in vain and that the people committed to their charge may have grace to heare and receive the same as his most holy word and the meanes of their salvation and that in all their words and deeds they may seek his glory and the increase of his kingdom c. And it was also ordered that there should be a Communion and that all that were ordained should receive it together with the ordainers and to remaine in the same place where hands were laid upon them till they had received the Communion Now thus weighing and well considering the whole proceedings of this constitution Let any moderate prudent person judge if there were any just cause to have laid it wholy aside but that upon second thoughts there is more cause it were restored to the generall satisfaction both of people and Ministry And for the forme of Consecrating a Bishop it was very grave and Solemn the substance of which was as followeth THe person Elected to that office was commended accordingly to God by the prayers of the Congregation that he might have grace duly to execute the office whereunto he is called to the edifying of the Church and to the honour and glory of his name Wherein the principall prayer is the same which was used in the ordaining of Priests or Presbyters with this difference in the former thus behold this thy servant now called to the office of Priest-hood and in this called to the worke and Ministry of a Bishop The portions read out of holy Scripture are the same also as 1 Tim. 3. 1. to vers 8. John 10. 1. to vers 17. only a third added John 21 15. to vers 18. The Bishop Elected was presented by two Bishops as a godly and well learned man to be consecrated accordingly diverse solemn engagements were demanded viz. for the reading of the Scriptures prayers preaching the withstanding of false doctrines an exemplary godly liâ—e maintaining of peace and quietness correcting of the unquiet to be gentle mercifull and charitable to the poore and needy c. As may be seen more at large in the Booke Then the prayer before imposition of hands was this ALmighty God and most mercifull Father which of thine infinite goodnesse hast given thy onely and most deaâ— beloved Son Jesus Christ â—o be our Redeemer and Author of everlasting life who after that he had made perfect our Redemption by his death and was ascended into heaven poured down his gifts abundantly upon men making some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastours and Doctours to the edifying and making perfect his Congregation grant we beseech thee to this thy servant such grace that he may evermore be ready to spread abroad thy Gospel and glad tidings of reconcilement to God and to use the authority given unto him not to destroy but to save not to hurt but to help so that he as a wise and faithfull servant giving to thy family meat in due season may at the last be received into joy through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and the holy Ghost liveth and reigneth one God world without end Amen Then the Archbishop and Bishops present layd their hands upon the head of the Elected Bishop saying Take the holy Ghost and remember that thou stirre up the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of hands for God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and love and sobernesse Then the Archbishop delivereth to him the Bible saying Give heed unto reading exhortation and doctrine Think upon these things contained in this book Be diligent in them that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all men Take heed unto thy self and unto teaching and be diligent in doing them for by doing this thou shalt save thy self and them that hear thee Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd not a woolf feed them devour them not hold up the weak heal the sick binde together the broken bring again the outcasts seek the lost be so mercifull that ye be not too too remisse so minister discipline that you forget not mercy that when the chief Shepherd shall come ye may receive the immarcescible crown of glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Lastly there was a Communion and the new consecrated Bishop did communicate with the rest When there was one speciall prayer conceived for him as followeth MOst mercifull Father we beseech thee to send down upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing and so endue him with thy holy Spirit that he preaching thy word may not only be earnest to reprove beseech and rebuke with all patience and doctrine but also may be to such as believe an wholsome example in word in conversation in love in faith in chastity and purity that faithfully fulfilling his course at the latter day he