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 God's 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 than 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 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 altho' Baptized and born again in Christ yet offend in many things and if we say we have no sâ—â— we deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us XVI Of Sin after Baptism NOt every deadly Sin willingly committed after Baptism 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 Baptism 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 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 Mankind and to bring them by Christ to everlasting Salvation as vessels made to Honour Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent a Benefit of God be called according to God's 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 GOD's 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 mind to high and heavenly things as well because it doth greatly establish confirm their Faith of eternal Salvation to be enjoyed through Christ as because it doth frequently 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 God's Predestination is a most dangerous down-fall whereby the devil doth thrust them either into desperation or into wretchlesness of unclean Living no less perilous than Desperation Furthermore we must receive God's 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 Christ's Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same As the Church of Hierusalem 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 God's 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 Writt yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to believed for necessity of Salvation XXI Of the Authority of General Councils GEneral Councels may not be gathered together without the Commandment and Will of Princes and when they be gathered together forasmuch as they be an assembly of men whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of GOD they may err sometime have erred even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to Salvation have neither Strength nor Authority unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture XXII Of Purgatory THe Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory Pardons Worshipping and Adoration as well of Images as of Reliques and also Invocation of Saints is a fond thing vainly invented grounded upon no Warranty of Scripture but rather Repugnant to the Word of God. XXIII Of Ministring in the Congregation IT is not lawful for any man to take upon him the Office of publick Preaching or Ministring the Sacraments in the Congregation before he be lawfully Called and sent to execute the same and those we ought to judge lawfully called sent which be chosen called to this work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation to call and send Ministers into the Lords Vineyard XXIV Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People understandeth IT is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God the Custom of the primitive Church to have publick prayer in the Church or to Minister the Sacraments in a Tongue not understood by the People XXV Of the Sacrament SAcraments ordained of Christ be not only Badges or tokens of Christian mens 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 Exireme Vnction 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 by the Scriptures but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Suppor 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 wholsom effect or operation but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves Damnation as St. Paul saith XXVI Of the unworthiness of the Ministers which hinder not the Effects of the Sacraments ALthough in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good and sometime 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 the 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 ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christ's Institution Promise although they be ministred 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 Judgment be deposed XXVII Of Baptism BAptism is not only a Sign of Profession and mark of Difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned 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 the Forgiveness of sâ—n and of our adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghost 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 XXVIII Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the Love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's Death insomuch that to such as rightly worthily 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 it 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 spiritual manner And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Lords Supper is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lords 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 Lords Supper THe wicked and such as be void of a lively Faith altho' they do carnally visibly press with their Teeth as St. Augustine saith the Sacrament of the Body Blood of Christ yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ but rather to their Condemnation do eat drink the sign or Sacrament of so great a thing XXX Of both kinds THe Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people for both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Christs Ordinance Commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men alike XXXI Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross THe 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 BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by God's Law either to vow the state 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 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 Publicane 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 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 Countreys times mens Manners so that nothing be ordained against God's Word Whosoever through his private Judgment willingly 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 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 Homilies THe 2nd Book of Homilies the several Titles whereof we have joined under this Article doth contain a godly wholsome Doctrine and necessary for these times as doth the former Book of Homilies which were set forth in the time of Edward the 6th and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently distinctly that they may be understood 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 keeping clean of Churches 4 Of Good Works 1st Fasting 5 Against Gluttony Drunkenness 6 Against Excess of Apparel 7 Of Prayer 8 Of the Place Time of Prayer 9 That Common Prayers Sacraments ought to be ministred 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 Sacrament of the Body 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 THe Book of Consecration of Archbishops Bishops and Ordering of Priests Deacons lately set forth in the time of Edward the 6. and confirmed at the same time by the Authority of Parliament doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration 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 2nd year of the aforenamed K. 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 Ordered XXXVII Of the Civil 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 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 Queens 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 ministring 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 Estates 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 hainous and grievous Offences It is lawful for Christian men at the Commandment of the Magâ—â—trate to wear Weapons and serve in the Wars XXXVIII Of Christian mens Goods which are not Common THe Riches Goods of Christians are not Common as touching the Right Title Possession of the same as certain Anabaptists do falsly boast Notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth liberally to give Alms to the poor according to his Ability XXXIX Of A Christian man's Oath AS we confess that vain rash Swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ James 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 Prophet's Teaching in Justice Judgment and Truth 40. The RATIFICATION THis Book of Articles before rehearsed is again approved and allowed to be holden 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 Hand of the Archbishop Bishops of the Vpper House and by the Subscription of the whole Clergy of the Nether House in their Convocation in the Year of our Lord 1571 The TABLE 1 OF Faith in the 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 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 Ministring in the Congregation 24 Of Speaking in the Congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the Worthiness of Ministers 27 Of Baptism 28 Of the Lord's Supper 29 Of the Wicked which â—â—t noâ— the Body of Christ 30 Of both Kinds 31 Of Christ's Oblation 32 Of the Marriage of Priests 33 Of Excommunicate Persons 34 Of the Traditions of the Chruch 35 Of Homilies 36 Of Consecration of Ministers 37 Of Civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens Goods 39 Of a Christian man's Oath The Ratification FINIS