Church Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christs death Insomuch that to such as rightly worthily and with faith receive the same the bread which we break is a communion of the body of Christ likewise the Cup of blessing is a Communion of the blood of Christ Transubstantiation or the change of the Substance of Bread and wine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy Writ but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture and hath given occasion to many superstitions For as much as the truth of mans nature requireth that the body of one and the self same man cannot be at one time in divers places but must needs be in some one certain place therefore the body of Christ cannot be present at one time in many and divers places and because as holy Scripture doth teach Christ was taken up into heaven and there shall continue unto the end of the World a faithful man ought not either to believe or openly to confesse the real and bodily presence as they tearm it of Christs flesh and blood in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not commanded by Christs ordinance to be kept carried about lifted up nor worshipped Of the perfect oblation of Christ made upon the Cross THe offering of Christ made once for ever is the perfect redemption the pacifying of Gods displeasure 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 sin were forged fables and dangerous deceits The state of single life is commanded to no man by the word of God BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded to vow the state of single life without marriage neither by Gods Law are they compelled to abstain from matrimony Excommunicate persons are to be avoided THat person which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicate 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 Iudge that hath authority thereto 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 and mens manners so that nothing be ordained against Gods word Whosoever through his private judgement 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 one that offendeth against the common order of the Church and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren Of Homilies THe Homilies of late given and set out by the Kings authority be godly and wholsome containing Doctrine to be received of all men and therefore are to be read to the people diligently distinctly and plainly Of the book of Prayers and Ceremonies of the Church of England THe Book which of very late time was given to the Church of England by the Kings authority and the Parliament containing the manner form of praying and ministring the Sacraments in the Church of England likewise also the book of ordering Ministers of the Church set forth by the foresaid authority are Godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsome Doctrine of the Gospel but agreeable thereunto furthering and beautifying the same not a little and therefore of all faithful members of the Church of England and chiefly of the Ministers of the word they ought to be received allowed with all readinesse of minde and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is Supream head in earth next under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Civil Magistrate is ordained and allowed of God wherefore we must obey him not onely for fear of punishment but also for conscience sake The Civil Laws may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christians at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in lawful wars Christian mens goods are not common THe riches and goods af 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 Christian men may take an oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle Iames 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 judgement and truth The Resurrection of the dead is not yet brought to passe THe Resurrection of the Dead is not as yet brought to passe as though it onely belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is raised from the death of sin but it is to be lookt for at the last day For then as Scripture doth most manifestly testifie to all that be dead their own bodies flesh and bone shall be restored that the whole man may according to his works have either reward or punishment as he hath lived vertuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither dye with the bodies nor sleep idly THey which say that the Souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving untill the day of judgement or affirm that the souls dye with the bodies and at the last day shall be raised up with the same do utterly dissent from the right belief declared to us in holy Scripture Hereticks called Millenarii THey that go about to renew the Fable of the Hereticks called Millenarii be repugnant to holy Scripture and cast them selves headlong into a Iewish dotage All men shall not be saved at the length THey also are worthy of Condemnation who endeavour at this time to restore the dangerous opinion that all men be they never so ungodly shall at length be saved when they have suffered paines for their sins a certain time appointed by Gods Iustice The End of the Articles Imprinted by John Day 1553. ARTICULI de quibus in
thing vainly invented and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture but rather repugnant to the Word of God 23. 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 and sent which be chosen and 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 24. Of speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the people understandeth IT is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God Haec clausula non habetur in Edvard 6. Artic. and the custome of the Primitive Church to have publick prayer in the Church or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people 25. Of the Sacraments SAcraments ordained of Christ be not onely badges or tokens of Christian mens profession Dominus noster Iesus Christus Sacramentis numero paucissimis observatu facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem novi populi colligavit sicut est Baptismus Coena Domini but rather they be certain sure witnesses and effectual signes of grace and Gods good will towards us by the which he doth work invisibly in us and doth not onely 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 Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Those five commonly called Sacraments that is to say confirmation Penance orders Matrimony and extream Vnction are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel being such as have grown Haec notata non habentur in Edv. 6 Artic. partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper for that they have not any visible signe 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 duely use them And in such onely as worthily receive the same †Idque non ex opere ut quidam loquuntur operato quae vox ut peregrina est Sacris literis ignota sic parit sensum minimè pium sed admodum superstitiosum Artic. Edvard 6. they have a wholesome effect or operation but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation as S. Paul saith 26. Of the unworthinesse of the Ministers which hinder not the effect 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 Christs and do minister by his commission and authority we may use their ministery both in hearing the Word of God and in the receiving of the Sacraments Neither is the effect of Christs ordinance taken away by their wickednesse nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministred unto them which be effectual because of Christs institution and promise although they be ministred by evil men Neverthelesse 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 judgement be deposed 27. Of Baptisme BAptisme is not onely a signe of profession and mark of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christened but it is also a signe of Regeneration or new birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptisme rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of the forgiveness of sin 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 vertue of prayer unto God The Baptisme of yong children is in any wise to be retained in the Church as most agreeable with the institution of Christ 28. Of the Lords Supper THe Supper of the Lord is not onely a signe of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christs 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 Quum naturae humanae veritas requirat ut unius ejusdemque hominis Corpus in multis locis simul esse non possit sed in uno aliquo definito loco esse oporteat idcirco Christi corpus in multis diversis locis eodem tempore praesens esse non potest Et quoniam ut tradunt sacrae literae Christus in coelum fuit sublatus ibi usque ad finem seculi est permansurus non debet quisquam fidelium carnis ejus fanguinis Realem corporalem ut loquuntur praesentiam in Eucharistiâ vel credere vel profiteri R. Edvardi 6. Artic. 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 Haec notata non habentur in Reg. Edvard 9. Artic. in the Supper onely after an heavenly and spiritual manner And the meane whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Christs ordinance reserved carried about lifted up and worshipped 29. Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ in the use of the Lords Supper Non habetur hie Artic. in R. Edv. sexti THe wicked and such as be void of a 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 partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation do eat and drink the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing 30. Of both kindes 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 and commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men alike 31. 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 Seas or on the other side because the diversity of them is great and that there needeth good consideration to be had of the particularities thereof her Majesty referreth the prohibition or remission thereof to the order which her said Commissioners within the City of London shall take and notifie According to the which her Majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all manner of her Subjects and especially the Wardens and Company of Stationers to be obedient Provided that these orders do not extend to any prophane Authors and Workes in any Language that have been heretofore commonly received or allowed in any of the Vniversities and Schools but the same may be printed and used as by good order they were accustomed 52. Item Reverence of Prayers Although Almighty God is al times to be honoured withal manner of reverence that may be devised yet of all other times in time of Common prayer the same is most to be regarded Therefore it is to be necessarily received that in time of the Letanie and all other Collects and common Supplications to Almighty God all manner of people shall devoutly and humbly kneel upon their knees and give ear thereunto and that whensoever the name of Iesus shall be in any Lesson Sermon Honour to the name of Iesus or other wise in the Church pronounced that due reverence be made of all persons young and old with lownesse of courtesie and uncovering of heads of the menkinde as thereunto doth necessarily belong and heretofore hath been accustomed 53. Item That all Ministers and Readers of publick Prayers Curates to read distinctly Chapters and Homilies shall be charged to read leasurely plainly and distinctly and also such as are but mean Readers shall peruse over before once or twice the Chapters and homilies to the intent they may read to the better understanding of the people and the more encouragement of godlinesse An Admonition to simple men deceived by malitious THE Queens Majesty being informed that in certain places of the Realm sundry of her native Subjects being called to Ecclesiastical Ministery of the Church be by sinister perswasion and perverse construction induced to finde some scruple in the form of an Oath which by an Act of the last Parliament is prescribed to be required of divers persons for the recognition of their Allegeance to her Majesty which certainly never was ever meant nor by any equity of words or good sense can be thereof gathered would that all her loving Subjects should understand that nothing was is or shall be meant or intended by the same Oath to have any other duty allegeance or bond required by the same Oath then was acknowledged to be due to the most noble Kings of famous memory K. Henry the 8. her Majesties Father or K. Edward the sixt her Majesties Brother And further her Majesty forbiddeth all manner her Subjects to give ear or credit to such perverse and malicious persons which most sinisterly and maliciously labour to notifie to her loving Subjects how by words of the said Oath it may be collected that the Kings or Queens of this Realm possessors of the Crown may challenge authority and power of Ministery of divine service in the Church wherein her said Subjects be much abused by such evil disposed persons For certainly her Majesty â—…n either doth nor ever will challenge any authority then that was challenged and lately used by the said noble Kings of famous memory K. Henry the 8. and K. Edward the sixt which is and was of ancient time due to the Imperial Crown of this Realm that is under God to have the Soveraignty and rule over all manner of persons born within these her Realms Dominions and Countries of what estate either Ecclesiastical or Temporal soever they be so as no other forraign power shall or ought to have any superiority over them And if any person that hath conceived any other sence of the form of the said Oath shall accept the same Oath with this interpretation sense or meaning her Majesty is well pleased to accept every such in that behalf as her good and obedient Subjects and shall acquit them of all manner of penalties contained in the said Act against such as shall peremptorily or obstinately take the same Oath For Tables in the Church WHereas her Majesty understandeth that in many and sundry parts of the Realm the Altars of the Churches be removed and Tables placed for the administration of the holy Sacrament according to the form of the Law therefore provided And in some other places the Altars be not yet removed upon opinion conceived of some other order therein to be taken by her Majesties Visitors In the other whereof saving for an uniformity there seemeth no matter of great moment so that the Sacrament be duely and reverently ministred Yet for observation of one uniformity through the whole Realm and for the better imitation of the Law in that behalf it is ordered that no Altar be taken down but by oversight of the Curate of the Church and the Church-wardens or one of them at the least wherein no riotous or disordered manner to be used And that the holy Table in every Church he decently made and set in the place where the Altar stood and there commonly Covered as thereto belongeth and as shall vs appointed by the Visitors and so to stand saving when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be distributed at which time the same shall be so placed in good sort within the Chancel as whereby the Minister may be more conveniently heard of the Communicants in his prayer and ministration and the Communicants also more conveniently and in more number Communicate with the said Minister And after the Communion done from time to time the same holy Table to be placed where it stood before Item The Sacramental bread Where also it was in the time of K. Edward the sixt used to have the Sacramental bread of common fine bread it is ordered for the more reverence to be given to this holy Mysteries being the Sacraments of the body and Blood of our Saviour Iesus Christ that the same Sacramental bread be made and formed plain without any figure thereupon of the same finenesse and fashion round though somewhat bigger in compasse and thicknesse as the usuall bread and water heretofore named singing Cakes which served for the use of the private Masse The form of bidding the prayers to be used generally in this uniform sort YE shall pray for Christs holy Catholick Church that is for the whole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world and specially for the Church of England and Ireland And herein I require you most specially to pray for the Queens most excellent Majesty our soveraign Lady Elizabeth Queen of England France and Ireland defender of the Faith and Supreme governour of this Realm as well in Causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal You shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy word and
may hear the same And every Sunday and holy day they shall plainly and distinctly read or cause to be read one Chapter of the New testament in English in the said place at Matius immediately after the Lessons and at Even-song after Magnificat one Chapter of the old Testament And to the entent the premisses may be more conveniently done the Kings Majesties pleasure is that when ix Lessons should be read in the Church three of them shall be omitted and left out with the responds and at Evensong time the responds with all the memories shall be left off for that purpose Also because those persons which be sick and in peril of death be oftentimes put in despair by the craft and subtilty of the Devil who is then most busy and specially with them that lack the knowledge sure perswasion and stedfast belief that they may be made partakers of the great and infinite mercy which almighty God of his most bountiful goodnesse and meer liberality without our deserving hath offered freely to all persons that put their ful trust and confidence in him therefore that this damnable vice of despair may be clearly taken away and firme belief and stedfast hope surely conceived of all their parishioners being in any danger they shall learn and have alwayes in a readinesse such comfortable places and sentences of Scripture as do set forth the mercy benefits and goodness of almighty God towards all penitent and believing persons that they may at all times when necessity shall require promptly comfort their flock with the lively word of God which is the onely stay of mans conscience ALSO to avoid all contention and strife which heretofore hath risen among the Kings Majesties subjects in sundry places of his Realmes and Dominions by reason of fond curtesie and challenging of places in procession and also that they may the more quietly hear that which is said or song to their edifying they shall not from henceforth in any parish Church at any time use any procession about the Church or Church-yard or other place but immediately before high Mass the Priests with other of the Quire shall kneel in the midst of the Church and sing or say plainly and distinctly the Litany which is set forth in English with all the Suffrages following and none other procession or Litany to be had or used but the said Litany in English adding nothing thereto but as the Kings grace shall hereafter appoint and in Cathedral or Collegiate Churches the same shall be done in such places as our Commissaries in in our visitation shall appoint And in the time of the Litany of the Masse of the Sermon and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the parishioners no manner of persons without a just and urgent cause shall depart out of the Church and all ringing and knowling of Bells shall be utterly forborn for that time except one Bell in convenient time to be rung or knowled before the Sermon ALSO like as the people be commonly occupied the work-day with bodily labour for their bodily sustenance so was the holy day at the first beginning godly instituted and ordained that the people should that day give themselves wholly to God And whereas in our time God is more offended then pleased more dishonoured then honored upon the holy day because of idlenesse pride drunkennesse quarelling and brawling which are most used in such dayes people nevertheless perswading themselves sufficiently to honour God on that day if they hear Masse and service though they understand nothing to their edifying therefore all the Kings faithful and loving subjects shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their holy day according to Gods holy will and pleasure that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in knowledging their offences to God and amendment of the same in reconciling their selves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in often times receiving the Communion of the very body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poor and sick in using all sobernesse and Godly conversation Yet notwithstanding all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall teach and declare unto their Parishioners that they may with a safe and quiet conscience in the time of Harvest labour upon the holy and festival dayes and save that thing which God hath sent And if for any scrupulosity or grudge of conscience men should superstitiously abstain from working upon those dayes that then they should grievously offend and displease God ALSO forasmuch as variance and contention is a thing which most displeaseth God and is most contrary to the blessed Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ Curates shall in no wise admit to the receiving thereof any of their Cure and flock who hath maliciously and openly contended with his neighbour unlesse the same do first charitably and openly reconcile himself again remitting all rancour and malice whatsoever controversie hath been between them and neverthelesse their iust titles and rights they may charitably prosecute before such as have authority to heare the same ALSO that every Dean Archdeacon Master of Collegiate Church Master of Hospital and Prebendary being Priest shall preach by himself personally twice every year at the least either in the place where he is intituled or in some Church where he hath jurisdiction or else which is to the said place appropriate or united ALSO that they shall instruct and teach in their Cures that no man ought obstinately and maliciously to break and violate the laudable ceremonies of the Church by the King Commanded to be observed and as yet not abrogated And on the other side that whosoever doth superstitiously abuse them doth the same to the great peril and danger of his souls health as in casting holy water upon his bed upon Images and other dead things or bearing about him holy bread or saint Iohns Gospel or making crosses of wood upon Palm-Sunday in time of reading of the Passion or keeping private holy dayes as Bakers Brewers Smithes Shoomakers and such other do or ringing of holy bells or blessing with the holy candle to the intent thereby to be discharged of the burden of sin or to drive away devils or to put away dreames and phantasies or in putting trust and confidence of health and salvation in the same ceremonies when they be onely ordained instituted and made to put us in remembrance of the benefits which we have received by Christ And if he use them for any other purpose he grievously offendeth God ALSO that they shall take away utterly extinct and destroy all shrines covering of shrines all tables candlesticks trindilles or rolles of wax pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned miracles pilgrimages Idolatry and superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glasses windows or elsewhere within their Churches or houses And they shall exhort all their Parishioners to do the like within their several houses And that the
Majesty hath appointed for the due execution of the same shall be seen convenient charging and commanding them to see these Injunctions observed and kept of all persons being under their jurisdiction as they will answer to his Majesty for the contrary and his Majesties pleasure is that every Iustice of peace being required shall assist the Ordinaries and every of them for the due execution of the said Injunctions THE ORDER OF THE COMMUNION Imprinted at LONDON by Richard Grafton 1547. The Proclamation EDward by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the faith and of the Church of England and Ireland in earth the supreme head To all and singular our loving subjects Greeting For so much as in our high Court of Parliament lately holden at Westminster it was by us with the consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons there assembled most godly and agreeably to Christs holy institution enacted that the most blessed Sacrament of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ should from thenceforth be commonly delivered and ministred unto all persons within our Realm of England and Ireland and other our dominions under both kinds that is to say of bread and wine except necessity other wayes require least any man phansying and devising a sundry way by himself in the use of this most blessed Sacrament of unity there might thereby arise any unseemly and ungodly diversity Our pleasure is by the advice of our most deare Vncle the Duke of Somerset governour of our person and Protector of all our Realms Dominions and Subjects and other of our privie Councel that the said blessed Sacrament be ministred unto our people onely after such form and manner as hereafter by our authority with the advice before mentioned is set forth and declared willing every man with due reverence and Christian behaviour to come to this holy Sacrament and most blessed Communion lest by the unworthy receiving of so high mysteries they become guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and so eat and drink their own damnation but rather diligently trying themselves that they may so come to this holy table of Christ so be partakers of this holy Communion that they may dwell in Christ and have Christ dwelling in them And allso with such obedience and conformity to receive this our ordinance and most godly direction that we may be encouraged from time to time further to travel for the reformation and setting forth of such godly orders as may be most to Gods glory the edifying of our subjects and for the advancement of true Religion Which thing we by the help of God most earnestly intend to bring to effect willing all our loving subjects in the mean time to stay and quiet themselves with this our direction as men content to follow authority according to the bounden duty of subjects and not enterprising to run afore and so by their rashnesse become the greatest hinderers of such things as they more arrogantly then godly would seem by their own private authority most hotly to set forward We would not have our subjects so much to mislike our Iudgement so much to mistrust our zeal as though we either could not discern what were to be done or would not do all things in due time God be praised we know both what by his word is meet to be redressed and have an earnest minde by the advice of our most dear uncle and other of our privie Councel with all diligence and convenient speed so to set forth the same as it may most stand with Gods glory and edifying quietness of our people which we doubt not but all our obedient and loving subjects will quietly and reverently tarry for God save the KING The Order of the Communion First the Parson Vicar or Curate the next Sunday or holy day or at the least one day before he shall minister the Communion shall give warning to his parishioners or those which be present that they prepare themselves thereto saying to them openly and plainly as hereafter followeth or such like DEar friends and you especially upon whose souls I have cure charge upon day next I do intend by Gods grace to offer to all such as shall be there Godly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ to be taken of them in the remembrance of his most fruitful and glorious passion By the which passion we have obtained remission of our sins and be made partakers of the kingdom of heaven wherof we be assured and ascertained if we come to the said Sacrament with hearty repentance for our offences stedfast faith in Gods mercy and earnest minds to obey Gods will and to offend no more wherefore our duty is to come to these holy mysteries with most hearty thanks to be given to Almighty God for his infinite mercy and benefits given and bestowed upon us his unworthy servants for whom he hath not onely given his body to death and shed his blood but also doth vouchsafe in a Sacrament and mystery to give us his said body and blood spiritually to feed and drink upon The which Sacrament being so divine and holy a thing and so comfortable to them which receive it worthily and so dangerous to them that will presume to take the same unworthily my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the greatness of the thing and to search and examine your own consciences and that not lightly nor after the manner of dissemblers with God But as they which should come to a most godly and heavenly banket not to come but in the marriage garment required of God in Scripture that you may so much as lyeth in you be found worthy to come to such a table the wayes and means thereto is First that you be truly repentant of your former evil life and that you confesse with an unfeigned heart to almighty God your sins and unkindnesse towards his Majesty committed either by will word or deed infirmity or ignorance and that with inward sorrow and tears you bewaile your offences and require of almighty God mercy and pardon promising to him from the bottom of your hearts the amendment of your former life And amongst all others I am commanded of God especially to move and exhort you to reconcile your selves to your neighbours whom you have offended or who hath offended you putting out of your hearts all hatred and malice against them to be in love charity with all the world and to forgive other as you would that God should forgive you And if there be any of you whose conscience is troubled and grieved at any thing lacking comfort or counsel let him come to me or to some other discreet and learned Priest taught in the law of God and confess and open his sin and grief secretly that he may receive such ghostly counsel advice and comfort that his conscience may be relieved that of us as
a Minister of God of the Church he may receive comfort and absolution to the satisfaction of his mind and avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness requiring such as shall be satisfied with a general confession not to be offended with them that do use to their further satisfying the auricular and secret confession to the Priest nor those also which think needful or convenient for the quietness of their own consâ—iences particularly to open their sins to the Priest to be offended with them which are satisfied with their humble confession to God and the general confession to the Church But in all these things to follow and keep the rule of charity and every man to be satisfied with his own conscience not judging other mens minds or acts whereas he hath no warrant of Gods word for the same The time of the Communion shall be immediatly after that the Priest himself hath received the Sacrament without the varying of any other rite or ceremony in the Masse until other order shal be provided but as heretofore usually the Priest hath done with the Sacrament of the body to prepare blesse and consecrate so much as will serve the people so it shall yet continue still after the same manner and form save that he shall blesse and consecrate the biggest Chalice or some faire and convenient cup or cups full of wine with some water put unto it And that day not drink it up all himself but taking one onely sup or draught leave the rest upon the altar covered and turn to them that are disposed to be partakers of the Communion and shall thus exhort them as followeth DEarly beloved in the Lord ye coming to this holy Communion must consider what S. Paul writeth to the Corinthians how he exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves or ever they presume to eat of this bread and drink of this Cup for as the benefit is great if with a truely penitent heart and lively faith we receive this holy Sacrament for then we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood then we dwell in Christ and Christ in us we be made one with Christ and Christ with us So is the danger great if we receive the same unworthily for then we become guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour we eat drink our own damnation because we make no difference of the Lords body we kindle Gods wrath over us we provoke him to plague us with divers diseases and sundry kinds of death Iudge therefore your selves brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord. Let your minde be without desire to sin Repent you truely for your sinnes past have an earnest and lively faith in Christ our Saviour be in perfect charity with all men so shall ye be meet partakers of these holy mysteries But above all things you must give most humble and hearty thanks to God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost for the redemption of the world by the death and passion of our Saviour Christ both God and man who did humble himself even to the death upon the crosse for us miserable sinners lying in darknesse and the shadow of death that he might make us the children of God and exalt us to everlasting life And to the ende that we should alwayes remember the exceeding love of our Master and onely Saviour Iesus Christ thus doing for us and the innumerable benefits which by his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained to us he hath left in these holy mysteries as a pledge of his love and a continual remembrance of the same his own blessed body and precious blood for us spiritually to feed upon to our endlesse comfort and consolation To him therefore with the Father and the holy Ghost let us give as we are most bounden continual thanks submitting our selves wholly to his holy will and pleasure and studying to serve him in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Amen Then the priest shall say to them which be ready to take the Sacrament If any man here be an open blasphemer adulterer in malice or envie or any other notable crime and be not truely sorry therefore and earnestly minded to leave the same viâ—es or that doth not trust himself to be reconciled to Almighty God and in charity with all the world let him yet a while bewaile his sins and not come to this holy table least after the taking of this most blessed bread the devil enter into him as he did into Iudas to fulfil in him all iniquity and to bring him to destruction both of body and soul Here the Priest shall pause a while to see if any man will withdraw himself and if he perceive any so to do then let him commune with him privily at convenient leasure and see whether he can with good exhortation bring him to grace and after a little pause the Priest shall say You that do truely earnestly repent you of your sins and offences committed to almighty God and be in love and charity with your neighbours and intend to lead a new life and heartily to follow the Commandments of God and to walk from hence forth in his holy wayes draw neer and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort make your humble confession to almighty God and to his holy Church here gathered together in his name meekly kneeling upon your knees Then shall a general confession be made in the name of all those that are minded to receive the holy Communion either by one of them or else by one of the ministers or by the Priest himself all kneeling humbly upon their knees Almighty God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ maker of all things judge of all men we knowledge and bewaile our manifold sins and wickednesse which we from time to time most grievously have committed by thought word and deed against thy divine majesty provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us we do earnestly repent and be heartily sorry for these our misdoings The remembrance of them is grievous unto us the burthen of them is intolerable have mercy upon us have mercy upon us most mercyful Father for thy son our Lord Iesus Christs sake Forgive us all that is past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life to the honour and glory of thy name through Iesus Christ our Lord. Then shall the priest stand up and turning him to the people say thus Our blessed Lord who hath left power to his Church to absolve penitent sinners froÌ„ their sins to restore to the grace of the heavenly Father such as truely believe in Christ have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all sins confirm and strengthen you in all goodnesse and bring you to everlasting life Then shall the Priest stand up and turning him toward the people say thus Here what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith to all that truely turn
to him COme unto me all that travel and be heavy laden and I shall refresh you So God loved the world that he gave his onely begotten son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have life everlasting Heare also what S. Paul saith THis is a true saying and worthy of all men to be embraced and received that Iesus Christ came into this world to save sinners Heare also what St. John saith IF any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous he it is that obtained grace for our sins Then shall the Priest kneel down and say in the name of all them that shall receive the Communion this prayer following WE do not presume to come to this thy table O merciful Lord trusting in our own righteousnesse but in thy manifold and great mercies we be not worthy so much as to gather up the crombs under thy table but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy grant us therefore gracious Lord so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Iesus Christ and to drink his blood in these holy Mysteries that we may continually dwell in him and he in us that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most pretious blood Amen Then shall the Priest rise the people still reverently kneeling and the Priest shall deliver the Communion first to the Ministers if any be there present that they may be ready to help the Priest and after to the other And when he doth deliver the Sacrament of the body of Christ he shall say to every one these words following THe body of our Lord Iesus Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body unto everlasting life And the Priest delivering the Sacrament of the blood and giving every one to drink once and no more shall say THe blood of our Lord Iesus Christ which was shed for thee preserve thy soul unto everlasting life If there be a Deacon or other Priest then shall he follow with the Chalice and as the Priest Ministreth the bread so shall he for more expedition Minister the wine in form before written Then shall the priest turning him to the people let the people depart with this blessing THe peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his son Iesus Christ our Lord. To the which the people shall answer Amen Note that the bread that shall be consecrated shall be such as heretofore hath been accustomed And every of the said consecrated breads shall be broken into two pieces at the least or more by the discretion of the Minister and so distributed And men must not think lesse to be received in part then in the whole but in each of them the whole body of our Saviour Iesus Christ Note that if it doth so chance that the wine hallowed and consecrate doth not suffice or be enough for them that do take the Communion the Priest after the first Cup or Chalice be emptied may go again to the altar and reverently and devoutly prepare and consecrate an other and so the third or more likewise beginning at these words Simili modo postquam coenatum est and ending at these words qui pro vobis pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum and without any levation or lifting up Articles to be enquired of in visitations to be had within the Diocesse of Canterbury in the second year of the Reign of our Dread Sovereign Lord Edward the 6. by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defender of the Faith and in earth of the Church of England and also of Ireland the supreme head FIrst Whether Parsons Vicars and Curates and every of them have purely and sincerely without colour or dissimulation four times in the year at the least preached against the usurped power pretensed authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome Item Whether they have preached declared likewise 4. times of the year at the least that the Kings Majesties power authority and preheminence within his Realms and dominions is the highest power under God Item whether any person hath by writing ciphring preaching or teaching deed or act obstinately holden and stand with to extol set forth maintain or defend the authority jurisdiction or power of the Bishop of Rome or of his sea heretofore claimed and usurped or by any pretense obstinately or maliciously invented any thing for the extolling of the fame or any part thereof Item Whether in their common prayers they use not the Collects made for the King and make not special mention of his Majesties name in the same Item Whether they do not every Sunday and Holy day with the collects of the English procession say the prayer set forth by the Kings Majesty for peace between England and Scotland Item Whether they have not removed taken away and utterly extincted and destroyed in their Churches Chappels and houses all images all shrines coverings of shrines all tables candelsticks trindels or rolles of wax pictures paintings and all other monuments of feigned miracles pilgrimages idolatry and superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glaswindowes or elsewhere Item Whether they have exhorted moved and stirred their parishoners to do the like in every of their houses Item Whether they have declared to their Parishoners the Articles concerning the abrogation of certain superfluous holy dayes and done their indeavour to perswade the said parishioners to keep and observe the same Articles inviolably and whether any of those abrogate dayes hath been kept as holy dayes and by whose occasion they were so kept Item Whether they have diligently duly and reverently ministred the Sacraments in their Cures Item Whether they have preached or caused to be preached purely and sincerely the word of God in every of their Cures every quatter of the year once at the least exhorting their parishioners to the works commanded by Scriptures and not to works devised by mens phantasies besides Scripture as wearing or praying upon beads or such like Item Whether they suffer any Torches Candles Tapers or any other lights to be in your Churches but only two lights upon the high Altar Item Whether they have not every holy day when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recited to their parishioners in the Pulpit the Pater Noster the Creed and the Ten Commandements in English Item Whether every Lent they examine such persons as come to Confession to them whether they can recite the Pater Noster the Articles of our Faith and the Ten Commandements in English Item Whether they have charged fathers and mothers masters and governours of youth to bring them up in some vertuous study or occupation Item Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their benefices do leave their Cure to a rude and unlearned
person and not an honest well learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholsome doctrine Item Whether in every Cure they have they have provided one book of the whole Bible of the largest volumn in English and the Paraphrasis of Eras mus also in English upon the Gospels and set up the same in some convenient place in the Church where their parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same Item Whether they have discouraged any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or in English but rather comforted and exhorted every person to read the same as the very lively word of God and the special food of mans soul Item Whether Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests be common haunters resorters to Taverns or Alehouses giving themselves to drinking rioting or playing at unlawful games and do not occupie themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have refused or denied such to preach as have been licensed accordingly Item Whether they which have heretofore declared to their parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of Pilgrimages relicks or Images or lighting of candles kissing kneeling decking of the same Images or any such superstition have not openly recanted and reproved the same Item Whether they have one book or register safely kept wherein they write the day of every Wedding Christening and Burying Item Whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Kings Majesty and his Ministers and to Charity and love one to another Item Whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ before they can perfectly rehearse the Pater noster the Articles of the faith and the ten Commandments in English Item Whether they have declared and to their wits and power have perswaded the people that the manner and kinde of fasting in Lent and other dayes in the year is but a meer positive law and that therefore all persons having just cause of sickness or other necessity or being licensed by the Kings Majesty may moderately eat all kinde of meats without grudge or scruple of conscience Item Whether they be resident upon their benefices and keep hospitality or no and if they be absent or keep no hospitality whether they do make due distributions among the poor parishioners or not Item Whether Parsons Vicars Clerks and other beneficed men having yearly to dispend an hundred pound do not finde competently one Scholar in the university of Cambridg or Oxford or Some Grammar schoole and for as many hundred pounds as every of them may dispend so many Scholars like wise to be found by them and what be their names that they so finde Item Whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clerks having Churches Chapels or Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Item Whether they have councelled or moved their Parishioners rather to pray in a tongue not known then in English or to put their trust in any prescribed number of prayers as in saying over a number of beads or other like Item Whether they have read the Kings Majesties Injunctions every quarter of the year the first holy day of the same quarter Item Whether the Parsons Vicars Curates and other Priests being under the degree of a Bachelar of Divinity have of their own the new Testament both in Latine and in English and the paraphrase of Erasmus upon the same Item Whether within every Church he that Ministreth hath read or cause to be read the Epistle and Gospel in English and not in Latine either in the Pulpit or some other meet place so as the people may hear the same Item Whether every Sunday and holy day at Matiues they have read or cause to be read plainly and distinctly in the said place one Chapter of the new Testament in English immediatly after the Lessons and at Evensong after Magnificat one Chapter of the old testament Item Whether they have not at Matius omitted three lessons when ix should have been read in the Church and at Evensong the Responds with all the Memories Item Whether they have declared to their parishioners that Saint Marks day and the evens of the abrogate holy dayes should not be fasted Item Whether they have the Procession book in English and have said or song the said Litany in any other place but upon their knees in the middest of their Church and whether they use any other procession or omit the said Litany at any time or say it or sing it in such sort as the people cannot understand the same Item Whether they have put out of their Church-books this word Papa and the name and service of Thomas Bequet and prayers having rubrics containing pardons or indulgences and all other superstitious legends and prayers Item Whether they bid not the beades according to the order appointed by the Kings Majesty Item Whether they have opened and declared unto you the true use of Ceremonies that is to say that they be no workers nor workes of salvation but onely outward signes and tokens to put us in remembrance of things of higher perfection Item Whether they have taught and declared to their parishioners that they may with a safe and quiet conscience in the time of Harvest labour upon the holy and festival dayes and if supersticiously they abstain from working upon those dayes that then they do greivously offend and displease God Item Whether they have admitted any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with their neighbours Item Whether the Deanes Archdeacons Masters of Hospitals and Prebendaries have preached by themselves personally twice every year at the least Item whether they have provided and have a strong Chest for the poor mens Box and set and fastned the same neer to the high altar Item Whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their parishioners and specially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens Box and to bestow that upon the poor Chest which they were wont to bestow upon Pardons Pilgrimages Trentalles Masses satisfactory decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Friers and upon other like blinde devotions Item Whether they have denied to Visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Item Whether they have bought their benefices or come to them by fraud or deceit Item Whether they have every Sonday when the people be most gathered read one of the Homilies in order as they stand in the book set forth by the Kings Majesty Item Whether they do not omit prime and houres when they have any Sermon or Homily Item Whether they have said or sung any Masse in any Oratory Chappel or any mans house not
Procession or Letany to be had or used but the said Letany in English adding nothing thereto but as it is now appointed And in Cathedral or Collegiat Churches the same shall be done in such places and in such sort as our Commissioners in our visitation shall appoint And in the time of the Letany Let of hearing of Divine service of the Common prayer of the Sermon and when the Priest readeth the Scripture to the Parishioners no manner of persons without a just and urgent cause shall use any walking in the Church nor shall depart out of the Church and all ringing and knolling of bells shall be utterly forborn at that time except one bel in convenient time to be rung or knolled before the Sermon But yet for the retaining of the perambulation of the Circuits of Parishes they shall once in the year at the time accustomed with the Curate and the substantial men of the Parish walk about the Parishes as they were accustomed and at their return to the Church make their common prayers 19. Provided Perambulation of Parishes that the Curate in their said common Perambulations used heretofore in the dayes of Rogations at certain convenient places shall admonish the people to give thanks to God in the beholding of Gods benefits for the encrease and abundance of his fruits upon the face of the earth with the saying of the Ciii Psalm Benedic anima mea c. At which time also the same Minister shall inculcate these or such sentences Cursed be he which translateth the bounds and dolles of his Neighbour Or such other order of prayers as shall be hereafter appointed 20. Item All the Queens faithful and loving Subjects Spending of the holy day shall from henceforth celebrate and keep their Holyday according to Gods holy will and pleasure that is in hearing the word of God read and taught in private and publick prayers in knowledging their offences unto God and amendment of the same in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours where displeasure hath been in oftentimes receiving the Communion of the very body and blood of Christ in visiting of the poor and sick using all sobernesse and Godly conversation yet notwithstanding all Parsons Vicars and Curates shall teach declare unto their Parishioners that they may with a safe quiet conscience after their common prayer in the time of Harvest labour upon the holy and festival dayes and save that thing which God hath sent and if for any scrupulosity or grudge of conscience men should superstitiously abstain from working upon those dayes that then they should grievously offend and displease God 21. Also Open contenders to be reconciled openly For as much as variance and contention is a thing that most displeaseth God and is most contrary to the blessed Communion of the body and blood of our Saviour Christ Curates shall in no wise admit to the receiving thereof any of their cure and flock which be openly known to live in sin without repentance or who hath maliciously and openly contended with his neighbour unlesse the same do first charitably and openly reconcile himself again remitting all rancour and malice whatsoever controversie hath been between them And neverthelesse the just titles and rights they may charitably prosecute before such as have authority to hear the same Contemners of laudable Ceremonies 22. Also that they shall instruct and teach in their Cures that no man ought obstinately and maliciously to break and violate the laudable Ceremonies of the Church commanded by publick authority to be observed The abolishment of all things superstitious 23. Also that they shall take away utterly extinct and destroy all Shrines covering of Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of wax Pictures Paintings and all other Monuments of feigned miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition so that there remain no memory of the same in walls glasse-windows or elsewhere within their Churches and houses preserving neverthelesse or repairing both the walls and glasse windows and they shall exhort all their Parishioners to do the like within their several houses The Pulpit 24. And that the Church-wardens at the common charge of the Parishioners in every Church shall provide a comly and honest Pulpit to be set in a convenient place within the same and to be there seemly kept for the preaching of Gods word The chest of the poor 25. Also They shall provide and have within three months after this visitation a strong Chest with a hole in the upper part thereof to be be provided at the cost and charge of the Parish having three keyes whereof one shall remain in the custody of the Parson Vicar or Curate and the other two in the Custody of the Church-wardens or any other two honest men to be appointed by the Parish from year to year which Chest you shall set and fasten in a most convenient place to the intent the Parishioners should put into it their oblations and almes for their poor neighbours And the Parson Vicar and Curate shall diligently from time to time and especially when men make their Testaments call upon exhort and move their neighbours to confer and give as they may well spare to the said Chest declaring unto them whereas heretofore they have been diligent to bestow much substance otherwise then God commanded upon Pardons Pilgrimages Trentals decking of Images offering of Candles giving to Fryers and upon other like blinde devotions they ought at this time to be much more ready to help the poor and needy knowing that to relieve the poor is a true worshipping of God required earnestly upon pain of everlasting damnation and that also whatsoever is given for their comfort is given to Christ himself and so is accepted of him that he will mercifully reward the same with everlasting life The which almes and devotion of the people the keepers of the keyes shall at all times convenient take out of the Chest and distribute the same in the presence of the whole Parish The distribution of alms or six of them to be truely and faithfully delivered to their most needy neighbours And if they be provided for then to the reparation of high wayes next adjoyning or to the poor people of such Parishes neer as shall be thought best to the said keepers of the keyes And also the mony which riseth of Fraternities Guilds and other stocks of the Church except by the Queens Majesties Authority it be otherwise appointed shall be put in the said chest and converted to the said use and also the rents of Lands the profit of cattle and money given or bequeathed to Obits and Dirges and to the finding of Torches Lights Tapers and Lamps shall be converted to the said use saving that it shall be lawful for them to bestow part of the said profits upon the reparation of the said Church if great need require and whereas the Parish is very poor and not able otherwise to repaire
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 32. Of the marriage of Priests Non habentur haec notata in R. Edvard 6. Artic. BIshops Priests and Deacons are not commanded by Gods law either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage therefore it is lawful also 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 33. 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 untill he be openly reconciled by Penance and received into the Church by a Iudge that hath authority thereunto 34. 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 judgement 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 national Church hath authority to ordain Non habentur haec notata in Edv. 6. Artic. change and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by mans authority so that all things be done to edifying 35. * Homiliae nuper Ecclesiae Anglicanae per injunctiones Regias editae atque commendatae piae sunt atque salutares doctrinamque ab omnibus amplectendam continent Of Homilies THe second Book of Homilies the several titles whereof we have joyned under this Article doth contain a godly and wholsome 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 peril of Idolatry 3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches 4 Of good works first of Fasting 5 Against gluttony and drunkennesse 6 Against excesse of apparel 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 almes 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 Idleness 21 Against Rebellion De libro precationum ceremoniarum Ecclesiae Anglicanae LIber qui nuperrime authoritate Regis Parliamenti Ecclesiae Anglicanae traditus est continens modum formam orandi Sacramenta administrandi in Ecclesiâ similiter libellus eadem autoritate editus de ordinatione ministrorum Ecclesiae quoad doctrinae veritatem pii sunt salutari doctrinae Evangelii in nullo repugnant sed congruunt eandem non parum promovent illustrant atque ideo ab omnibus Ecclesiae Anglicanae fidelibus membris maxime à ministris verbi cum omni promptitudine animorum gratiarum actione recipiendi approbandi populo Dei commendandi sunt Artic. R. Edvard 6. 36. 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 year 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 37. Of the civil Magistrates THe Queens Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England and other her Dominions Rex Angliae est supremum caput in terris post Christum Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hiberniae Artic. Edv. 6. Haec notata non habentur in Artic. Edverd 6. 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 forreigne Iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majesty the chief government by which titles we understand the minds of some dangerous folkes to be offended we give not our Princes the ministring either of Gods word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth out 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 Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil doers Magistratus eivilis est à Deo ordinatus atque probatus quamobrem illi non solum propter iram sed etiam propter conscientiam obediendum est Artic. R. Edv. 6. The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences It is Lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the wars 38. 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 39. Of a Christian mans oath AS we confesse that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesus Christ and Iames his Apostle So we judge that Christian Religion doth not prohibit but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of
Preach or Administer the Sacraments being under the age of four and twenty years nor unlesse he first bring to the Bishop of that Diocess from men known to the Bishop to be of sound Religion a testimonial both of his honest life and of his professing the Doctrine expressed in the said Articles nor unless he be able to answer and render to the Ordinary an account of his faith in Latine accord-to the said Articles or have special gift and ability to be a Preacher nor shall be admitted to the Order of Deacon or Ministry unless he shall first subscribe to the said Articles And that none hereafter Who may have a Benefice of the yearly value of xxxl All Admissions Inductions Tolerations No Lapse upon deprivation but after notice Dyer fo 377. 346. 369. Cok. li. 6. fol 29. shall be admitted to any Benefice with Cure of or above the value of thirty pounds yearly in the Queens books unlesse he shall then be a Batchellour of Divinity or Preacher lawfully allowed by some Bishop within this Realm or by one of the Vniversities of Cambridge or Oxford And that all Admissions to Benefices Institutions and Inductions to be made of any person contrary to the form or any Provision of this Act and all tolerations dispensations qualifications and licences whatsoever to be made to the contrary hereof shall be meerly void in Law as if they never were Provided alway That no title to confer or present by a Lapse shall accrue upon any deprivation ipso facto but after six moneths notice of such deprivation given by the Ordinary to the Patron ADVERTISMENTS partly for due order IN THE PUBLICK ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOLY SACRAMENTS AND Partly for the apparel of all persons Ecclesiastical by vertue of the Queens Majesties letters commanding the same the 25. day of January in the seventh year of the reign of our Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the Faith c. LONDINI Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum Anno Dom. 1564. Anno 7. Eliz. R. The Preface THe Queens Majesty of her godly Zeal calling to remembrance how necessary it is to the advancement of Gods glory and to the establishment of Christs pure Religion for all her loving subjects especially the state Ecclesiastical to be knit together in one perfect unity of doctrine and to be conjoyned in one uniformity of Rites and manners in the ministration of Gods holy word in open prayer and ministration of Sacraments as also to be of one decent behaviour in their outward apparel to be known partly by their distinct habits to be of that vocation who should be reverenced the rather in their offices as Ministers of the holy things whereto they be called hath by her letters directed unto the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and metropolitane required enjoyned and straightly charged that with assistence and conference had with other Bishops namely such as be in commission for causes Ecclesiastical some orders might be taken whereby all diversities and varieties among them of the Clergy and the people as breeding nothing but contention offence and breach of common charity and he against the laws good usage and ordinances of the Realm might be reformed and repressed and brought to one manner of uniformity throughout the whole Realm that the people may thereby quietly honour and serve almighty God in truth concord unity peace and quietness as by her Majesties said letters more at large doth appeare Whereupon by diligent conference and communication in the same and at last by assent and consent of the persons beforesaid these orders and rules ensuing have been thought meet and convenient to be used and followed not yet prescribing these rules as laws equivalent with the eternal word of God and as of necessity to binde the consciences of her subjects in the nature of them considered in themselves Or as they should adde any efficacy or more holinesse to the vertue of publick prayer and to the Sacraments but as temporal orders meer Ecclesiastical without any vain superstition and as rules in some part of discipline concerning decency distinction and order for the time Articles for Doctrine and preaching FIrst that all they which shall be admitted to preach shall be diligently examined for their conformity in unity of doctrine established by publick authority and admonished to use sobriety and discretion in teaching the people namely in matters of controversie and to consider the gravity of their office and to foresee with diligence the matters which they will speak to utter them to the edification of the audience Item That they set out in their preaching the reverent estimation of the holy Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper exciting the people to the often and devout receiving of the holy Communion of the body and blood of Christ in such form as is already prescribed in the book of Common Prayer and as it is further declared in an Homily concerning the vertue and efficacy of the said Sacraments Item That they move the people to all obedience as well in observation of the orders appointed in the book of Common service as in the Queens Majesties injunctions as also of all other civil duties due for subjects to do Item That all licences for preaching granted out by the Arch-Bishop and Bishops within the province of Canterbury bearing date before the first day of March 1564 be void of none effect and neverthelesse all such as shall be thought meet for the office to be admitted again without difficulty or charge paying no more but iiii pence for the writing parchment and wax Item If any Preacher or Parson Vicar or Curate so licensed shall fortune to preach any matter tending to dissention or to the derogation of the Religion and Doctrine received that the hearers denounce the same to the Ordinaries or the next Bishop of the same place but no man openly to contrary or to impugne the same speech so disorderly uttered whereby may grow offence and disquiet of the people but shall be convinced and reproved by the Ordinary after such agreeable order as shall be seen to him according to the gravity of the offence And that it be presented within one moneth after the words spoken Item That they use not to exact or receive unreasonable rewards or stipends of the poor Pastors coming to their Cures to preach whereby they might be noted as followers of filthy lucre rather then use the office of preaching of charity and good zeal to the salvation of mens souls Item If the Parson be able he shall preach in his own person every three moneths or else shall preach by an other so that his absence be approved by the Ordinary of the Dioces in respect of sickness service or study at the Vniversities Neverthelesse yet for want of able Preachers and Parsons to tolerate them without penalty so that they preach in their own persons or by a Learned substitute once in
Obedience Item Whether they have exhorted the people to obedience to the Queens Majesty and Ministers and to charity and love one to another The Sacrament Item Whether they have admonished their Parishioners that they ought not to presume to receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ before they can say perfectly the Lords prayer the Articles of the faith and the ten Commandements in English Hospitality Item Whether they be resident upon their Benefices and keep hospitality or no whether they do relieve their Parishioners and what they give them Reparations Item Whether Proprietaries Parsons Vicars and Clarks having Churches Chappels and Mansions do keep their Chancels Rectories Vicarages and all other houses appertaining to them in due reparations Prayer in English Item Whether they do counsel or move their Parishioners rather to pray in a tongue not known then in English or put their trust in any certain number of prayers as in saying over a number of Beads Beads or other like Defamed persons Item Whether they have received any persons to the Communion being openly known to be out of charity with their neighbours or defamed with any notorious crime and not reformed Poor mens box Item Whether they have provided and have a strong chest for the poor mens box and set and fastned the same in a place of the Church most convenient Testament Item Whether they have diligently called upon exhorted and moved their parishioners and especially when they make their Testaments to give to the said poor mens Box and to bestow that upon the poor which they were wont to bestow upon Pilgrimages Pardons Trentalls and upon otherlike blinde devotions Sick Burial Item Whether they have denied to visit the sick or bury the dead being brought to the Church Simony Item Whether they have bought their Benefices or come to them by fraud guile deceit or Simony Adulterers Item Whether they have given open monition to their Parishioners to detect and present to their Ordinary all Adulterers and Fornicators and such men as have two wives living within their Parishes Item Whether they have monished their parishioners openly Church goods that they should not sell give nor otherwise alienate any of their Church goods Item Whether they Many Benefices or any of them do keep moe Benefices and other Ecclesiastical promotions then they ought to do not having sufficient licences and dispensations thereunto and how many they be and their names Item Whether they minister the holy Communion any otherwise Communion then onely after such form and manner as it is set forth by the common authority of the Queens Majesty and the Parliament Item Letters of the word or preaching Whether you know any person within your Parish or else where that is a letter of the word of God to be read in English or sincerely preached in place and times convenient Item Whether in the time of the Letany Goers out of the church or any other Common prayer in the time of the Sermon or Homily and when the Priest readeth the Scriptures to the Parishioners any person have departed out of the Church without just and necessary cause or disturbed the minister otherwise Item Whether the money coming and rising of any Cattel Church money or other moveable stocks of the Church and money given and bequeathed to the finding Torches Lights Tapers or Lamps not paid out of any lands have not been imployed to the poor mens chest Item Who hath the said stocks and money in their hands Keepers of the Church money and what be their names Item Contempt of Priests Whether any undiscreet person do uncharitably contemn and abuse Priests and Ministers of the Church Item The Kings Grammar Whether there be any other Grammar taught in any School within this Diocesse then that which is set forth by the authority of King Henry the eight Item The time of Service Whether the service of the Church be done at due and convenient houres Item Whether any have used to commune jangle Talkers in the Church and talke in the Church in the time of the prayer reading of the Homily preaching reading or declaring of the Scripture Item Heresies Whether any have wilfully maintained and defended any Heresies errors or false opinions contrary to the faith of Christ and holy Scripture Item Whether any be common drunkards Drunkards swearers or blasphemers of the name of God Adulterers Item Whether any have committed Adultery fornication or incest or be common Bawds or receivers of such evil persons or vehemently suspected of any of the premisses Brawlers Item Whether any be brawlers slanderes chiders scolders and sowers of discord between one person and another Sorcerers Item Whether you know any that do use Charmes Sorceries Inchantments Invocations Circles Witchcrafts Soothsaying or any like crafts or imaginations invented by the Devil and specially in the time of womens travel Pulpits Item Whether Churches Pulpits and other necessaries appertaining to the same be sufficiently repaired and if they be not in whose default the same is Resorters to other Churches Item Whether you know any that in contempt of their own Parish Church do resort to any other Church Inholders Item Whether any Inholders or Alehouse keepers do use commonly to sell meat and drink in the time of common prayer preaching reading of the Homilies or Scripture Divorce Item Whether you know any to be married within the degrees prohibited by the laws of God or that be separated or divorced without the degrees prohibited by the law of God and Whether any such have married again Privie contracts Item Whether you know any to have made privie contracts of Matrimony not calling two or moe witnesses thereunto nor having thereto the consent of their parents Banes Item Whether they have married solemnly the banes not first lawfully asked Executors Item Whether you know any Executors or Administrators of dead mens goods which do not onely bestow such of the said goods as were given and bequeathed or appointed to be distributed among the poor people repairing of High wayes finding of poor scholars or marrying of poor maidens or such other like charitable deeds Images Item Whether you know any that keep in their houses any undefaced Images Tables Pictures Paintings or other Monuments of feigned and false miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and superstition and do adore them and specially such as have been set up in Churches Chappels and Oratories Books Item What books of holy Scripture you have delivered to be burnt or otherwise destroyed and to whom ye have delivered the same Bribes Item What bribes the Accusers Promoters Persecutors Ecclesiastical Iudges and other the Commissioners appointed within the several Diocesses of this Realm have received by themselves or other of those persons which were in trouble apprehended or
quarum singulos titulos huic articulo subiunximus continet piam salutarem doctrinam hiis temporibus necessariam non minus quam prior Tomus Homiliarum quae editae sunt tempore Edwardi sexti Itaque eas in Ecclesiis per ministros diligenter clare ut a populo intelligi possint recitandas esse judicavimus De nominibus Homiliarum Of the right use of the Church Against perill of idolatry Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches Of good works First of fasting Against gluttony and drunkennesse Against excess of apparell Of prayer Of the place and time of prayer That common prayers Sacraments ought to be ministred in a known toung Of the reverent estimation of Gods word Of almes doing Of the Nativity of Christ Of the passion of Christ Of the Resurrection of Christ Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ Of the gifts of the holy Ghost For the Rogation dayes Of the State of Matrimony Of Repentance Against idleness Against rebellion De Episcoporum Ministrorum consecratione LIbellus de consecratione Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum de ordinatione praesbyterorum diaconorum editus nuper temporibus Edwardi VI. authoritate Parliamenti illis ipsis temporibus confirmatus omnia ad ejusmodi consecrationem ordinationem necessaria continet nihil habet quod ex se sit aut superstitiosum aut impium itaque quicunque juxta ritus illius libri consecrati aut ordinati sunt ab anno secundo praedicti regis Edwardi usque ad hoc tempus aut imposterum juxta eosdem ritus consecrabuntur aut ordinabuntur rite atque ordine atque legitime statuimus esse fore consecratos ordinatos De civilibus Magistratibus REgia Majestas in hoc Angliae regno ac caeteris ejus dominiis summam habet potestatem ad quam omnium statuum hujus regni sive illi Ecclesiastici sint sive civiles in omnihus causis suprema gubernatio pertinet nulli externae jurisdictioni est subjecta nec esse debet Cum Regiae Majestati summam gubernationem tribuimus quibus titulis intelligimus animos quorundam calumniatorum offendi non damus Regibus nostris aut verbi Dei aut Sacramentorum administrationem quod etiam Injunctiones ab Elizabetha Regina nostra nuper editae aâ—ertissime testantur Sed eam tantum prerogativam quam in sacris Scripturis a Deo ipso omnibus piis Principibus videmus semper fuisse attributam hoc est ut omnes status atque ordines fidei suae a Deo commissos sive illi Ecclesiastici sint sive civiles in officio contineant contumaces ac delinquentes gladio civili coerceant Romanus pontifex nullam habet jurisdictionem in hoc regno Angliae Leges Regni possunt Christianos propter capitalia gravia crimina morte punire Christianis licet ex mandato Magistratus arma portare justa bella administrare De illicita bonorum communicatione FAcultates bona Christianorum non sunt communia quoad jus possessionem ut quidam Anabaptistae falso jactant debet tamen quisque de his quae possidet pro facultatum ratione pauperibus eleemosinas benigne distribuere De jurejurando QVemadmodum juramentum vanum temerarium a Domino nostro Jesu Christo Apostolo ejus Jacobo Christianis hominibus interdictum esse fatemur ita Christianorum Religionem minime prohibere censemus quin jubente magistratu in causa fidei charitatis jurare liceat modo id fiat juxta Prophetae doctrinam in justitia in judicio veritate Confirmatio Articulorum HIc liber antedictorum Articulorum jam denuo approbatus est per assensum consensum Serenissimae Reginae Elizabethae Dominae nostrae Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Reginae defensoris fidei c. retinendus per totum Regnum Angliae exequendus Qui Articuli lecti sunt et denuo confirmati subscriptione D. Archiepiscopi Episcoporum superioris domus totius Cleri inferioris domus in Convocatione Anno Domini 1571. FINIS LIBER QUORUNDAM CANONUM DISCIPLINAE Ecclesiae Anglicanae ANNO MDLXXI De Episcopis De Decanis Ecclesiarum De Archidiaconis De Cancellariis c. De Aedituis Aecclesiarum De Concionatoribus De Residentia De Pluralitatibus De Ludimagistris De Patronis c. LONDINI Apud Johannem Day 1571. ¶ DE EPISCOPIS ¶ Sequuntur in hoc libello certi quidam articuli de sacro ministerio procuratione Ecclesiarum in quos plene consensum est in Synodo a Domino Mathaeo Archiepis Cantuar. totius Angliae Primate Metopolitano et reliquis omnibus ejus Provinciae Episcopis partim personaliter praesentibus partim procuratoria manu subscribentibus in synodo inchoata Londini in aede Divi Pauli tertio die Aprilis 1571. OMNES EPISCOPI diligenter docebunt Evangelium non tantum in Ecclesiis Cathedralibus quibus praesunt sed etiam passim per omnes Ecclesias suae cujusque dioeceseos ubi maxime putabunt expedire Imprimis autem cohortabuntur populum ad lectionem auditionem Sacrarum Scripturarum utque statis temporibus conveniant ad suas quique Ecclesias diligenter auscultent Sacris Concionatoribus utque submisse audiant pias preces quae a Ministro dicentur una precentur ipsi coelestium Mysteriorum ut nunc in Ecclesiis nostris authoritate jussu totius Regni legitime pie procurantur sint participes Episcopus quisque ante Calendas Septembris proximas advocabit ad se omnes publicos Concionatores quicunque erunt in sua cujusque dioecesi ab illis repetet facultates concionandi quas habent authentico sigillo consignatas easque vel retinebit apud se vel extinguet Deinde delectu illorum prudenter facto quoscunque ad illam tantam functionem aetate doctrina judicio innocentia modestia gravitate pares invenerit illis novas facultates ultro dabit ita tamen ut prius subscribant articulis christianae religionis publice in synodo approbatis fidemque dent se velle tueri defendere doctrinam eam quae in illis continetur ut consentients imam veritati divini verbi Episcopus etiam atque etiam confiiderabit quod genus hominum admittat in famulitium Fit enim interdum ubi haec cautio diligentia non adhibetur ut homines impios verae religionis inimicos criminosos tota vita impuros sceleratos admittamus Ex eo adversarius facile capiet maledicendi occasionem Episcoporum famuli in omni vestis genere ita se modeste composite ornabunt ut fratres suos quos Paulus appellat domesticos fidei non offendant Episcopus nemini posthac manum imponet nisi instituto in bonis literis vel in Academia vel in inferiore aliqua schola aut qui satis commode intelligat latinam linguam probe