17. which is to be understood mystically also of death spiritual by Excommunication by being cut off from the living body of Christ's Church It being thus cleared by reason and Gods own Rule that such power is necessary for preserving peace and unity it cannot be imagined with reason that our great Master should deny his dear-bought Body such necessaries But not to rest upon the reason why they should be given it may be made to appear that de facto He hath given such power to the Church and that by reciting his gracious Commissions granted to the Church with his Apostles practice and exercise of those powers who best knowing their Lords will and pleasure must be by their practice the best Interpreters of his mind and meaning See then how read we For the power of Jurisdiction we find a large Commission St. John 20. As my Father sent me so send I you and one particular of Jurisdiction there expressed Whosoever sins you bind in Earth they are bound in Heaven a sharp and dreadful sentence worse than that of the sword by so much as the death of the Soul is worse than the death of the Body which in obstinate despisers of that correction doth too certainly follow This power of spiritual censures St. Paul calls the rod of discipline 1 Cor. 4. ult By vertue of this Power and Commission St. Paul delivers the incestuous Corinthian to Satan and casts him out of the Churches Communion 1 Cor 5. And the same St. Paul not only exercises this Jurisdiction himself but also directs his Son Bishop Timothy how to behave himself in the Ordering of these Church-censures 1 Tim. 5.19 not to receive an accusation against a Presbyter under two or three witnesses and when he hath heard to rebuke or censure as the cause requires without partiality or leaning to either side all which speak plainly a Tribunal erected in the Church and acknowledged by the Apostle enough to prove the power of Jurisdiction Then the Legislative of making Laws and Constitutions for regulating manners and determining doubts and controversies it cannot with reason be denied to be granted in that large Commission forecited St. John 20. As my father sent me so send I you For here committing the Government of the Church to his Apostles our Lord Commissions them with the same power that was committed to him for that purpose when he was on earth with the same necessary standing power that he had and exercised as Man for the good of the Church Less cannot in reason be thought to be here granted than all power necessary for the well and peaceable Government of the Church and such a power is this of making Laws this is a Commission in general for making Laws then in particular for making Articles and decisions of Doctrines controverted the power is more explicit and express St. Matth. 28. All power is given to me go therefore and teach all nations that is with Authority and by vertue of that power that is given to me And what is it to teach the truth with Authority but to command and oblige all people to receive the truth so taught And this power was not given to the Apostles persons only for Christ there promised to be with them in that Office to the end ef the world that is to them and their Successors in that Pastoral Office to the Apostles or Bishops that should succeed them to the end of the World This will appear still more clear by St. Paul Heb. 13. where after he had commanded them not to be carried about with divers and strange Doctrines he prescribes this as the preservative against such errors and inconstancy Obey them that have the oversight over you and watch for your souls obey them in the guidance and conduct of your souls in their determinations and decisions about such divers and strange Doctrine all which supposes in those Guides a power to govern and rule us in such doubts and controversies about Doctrines and matters of belief an authority to determine in Controversies of Faith as our Church teaches in her twentieth Article Add to this that St. Paul tells us 1 Tim. 3.15 that the Church is the ground and pillar of Truth And whither then should we go in doubts and controversies for the determination of what is truth but to the ground and pillar of truth For the clearer understanding of this power in the Church know that to this one holy Church our Lord committed in trust the most holy Faith and the whole stock of necessary Christian truth therefore called the ground and pillar of truth This truth she must endeavor to preserve as by stopping the mouths of obstinate gainsayers so by guiding and governing the meek but weak doubters into the truth by determining their doubts and controversies Not that the Church can make Articles of Faith and obtrude them upon the members but that she may and must if the true sense of Faith and holy Scriptures be called in question declare and determine what that sense is which she hath received in trust from Christ and his Apostles commanding under penalties and censures all her children to receive that sense and to profess it in such expressive words and form as may directly determine the doubt Thus she did in the great NICENE Council venerable over all the Christian World when the Arrians had perverted by subtil controversies and questions the true sense of the Creed concerning our Saviors Divinity she first declared what sense of the Creed she had received by constant tradition from the Apostles and then enjoined all Christians to profess that sense by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance with the Father a word directly determining the controversie in hand Nor did the Christian World ever questian her Authority in this particular And in contriversies about Doctrines where she hath received no such clear determination of either part from Christ and his Apostles she hath power to declare her own sense in the controversie and to determine which part shall be received and prefest for truth by her members and that too under Ecclesiastical penalty and censure which they accordingly are bound to submit to not as an infallible verity but as a probable truth and rest in her determination till it be made plain by as great or a greater Authority that this her determination is an error and if it shall appear to any of the Members to be an errour or if they shall think it so to be by the weight of such reasons as are privately suggested to them yet are they still obliged to silence and peace where the decision of a particular Church is against the Doctrine of the Vniversal not to profess in this case against the Churches determination because the professing of such a controverted truth is not necessary but the preservation of the peace and unity of the Church is This is not to assert Infallibility in the Church but Authority The
Sentence shall bind to submission though the Superiours may err in the sentence Thus God ordered it Deut. 17. that in doubts the Inferiour were to stand to the decision and sentence of the Priests and the Judge and yet their judgement was not infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole Assembly the chiefest Senate might err and sin through Ignorance and a sacrifice is appointed for the expiation of their errour Lev. 4.13 Better that Inferiours be bound to stand to such fallible judgment as to quiet submission in such kind of controversies as afore-mentioned than that every man be suffered to interpret Laws and determine controversies which will bring into the Church certain confusion Nor will such submission in the Inferiours be damnable seeing in this submission to Authority they follow Gods method obeying them that have the oversight over them Heb. 13. and keep order of which God is the Author 1 Cor. 14.33 God is not the Author of Confusion but of order and peace as in all Churches of the Saints This Authority in determining doubts and controversies the Church hath practised in all Ages and her constant practice is the best interpreter of her right We read not only of St. Pauls determining controversies about rites and circumstances 1 Cor. 14. but also of the Churches determining controversies of Doctrines and matters of belief in a full Council Act. 15. and requiring submission to those determinations from inferiour members The like did the Church afterwards in her general Councils of NICE CONSTANTINOPLE EPHESUS CHALCEDON And not only the General Councils have exercised this Authority but particular Churches also in National Councils in the Council of ORANGE MILEVIS and others have used the same power over their children whom they were bound to teach and govern and for whose souls they were to account to God and they did no more than was their right so long as they did it with submission to the general Church to whom they are subject Christ said to the Apostles and by this to all the guides of souls that should succeed them in a lawful Ordination he that hears you hears me and he that despises you despises me St. Cypr. Ep. 69. From these premises it plainly follows that our dear Mother the Church of England in makeing these Canons and Articles for determining the controversies in matters of belief which you may see in the ensuing Collection did no more than what was both her right and her duty to do both for the preservation of her peace and the guidance and conduct of the souls committed to her charge and what her care hath been in the exercise of this power for the good of her members ever since the Reformation will evidently to her honour appear by this following Collection made up not without great care and industry of the Publisher By which he hath done our Mother this farther right that now whosoever will may easily see the notorious slander which some of the Roman perswasion have endeavoured to cast upon her That her Reformation hath been altogether Lay and Parliamentary for by the Canons and Articles following which were formerly scattered and hard to be seen by every one now gathered together into a body it easily appears to any that will but open their eyes and read that the Reformation of this Church was orderly and Synodical by the Guides and Governors of souls and confirmed by Supreme Authority and so in every particular as legal as any Reformation could or ought to be Anth. Sparrow Books newly Printed for Robert Pawlet at the Bible in Chancery Lane 1675. AN Historical Vindication of the Church of England in point of Schisme as it stands separated from the Roman and was Reformed I. Elizabeth Written by Sir Robert Twisden Knight and Baronet XIX Sermons Preached by that Eminent Divine Henry Hammond D. D. Published by the Authors own Copies Golden Remains of the ever Memorable Mr. John Hales of Eaton Colledge Also Letters and Expresses concerning the Synod of Dort with many new Additions from an Authentick hand INJUNCTIONS Given by the most Excellent Prince EDWARD VI. By the Grace of God KING of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith And in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland the Supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity Imprinted at London by Richard Grafton MDXLVII Injunctions given by the most Excellent Prince Edward the Sixth by the Grace of God King of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and in Earth under Christ of the Church of England and of Ireland the supreme Head To all and singular his loving Subjects as well of the Clergy as of the Laity THE Kings most Royal Majesty by the advice of his most dear Vncle the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector of all his Realms Dominions and Subjects and Governor of his most Royal Person and residue of his most honourable Council intending the advancement of the true honor of Almighty God the suppression of Idolatry and Superstition throughout all his Realms and Dominions and to plant true Religion to the extirpation of all Hypocrisie Enormities and Abuses as to his duty appertaineth doth minister unto his loving Subjects these godly Injunctions hereafter following whereof part were given unto them heretofore by the Authority of his most dear beloved Father King Henry the Eighth of most famous memory and part are now ministred and given by His Majesty All which Injunctions his Highness willeth and commandeth his said loving Subjects by his supreme Authority obediently to receive and truly to observe and keep every man in their offices degrees and states as they will avoid his displeasure and the pains in the same Injunctions hereafter expressed 1. The first is That all Deans Archdeacons Parsons Vicars and other Ecclesiastical persons shall faithfully keep and observe and as far as in them may lie shall cause to be kept and observed of other all and singular Laws and Statutes made as well for the abolishing and extirpation of the Bishop of Rome his pretensed and usurped power and jurisdiction as for the establishment and confirmation of the Kings authority jurisdiction and supremacy of the Church of England and Ireland And furthermore all Ecclesiastical persons having cure of souls shall to the uttermost of their wit knowledge and learning purely sincerely and without any colour or dissimulation declare manifest and open four times every year at the least in their Sermons and other Collations that the Bishop of Rome's usurped power and jurisdiction having no establishment nor ground by the Laws of God was of most just causes taken away and abolished and that therefore no manner of obedience or subjection within his Realms and Dominions is due unto him And that the Kings power within his Realms and Dominons is the highest power under God to whom all men within the same Realms and Dominions by Gods Laws owe most Loyalty and
of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a sign and seal of our new-birth whereby as by an instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church the promises of forgiveness of sin and of our adoption to be the sons of God are visibly signed and sealed faith is confirmed and grace increased by vertue of prayer unto God The Custom of the Church to Christen young Children is to be commended and in any wise to be retained in the Church 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 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 VVine into the substance of Christs Body and Blood cannot be proved by holy VVrit 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 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 confess the real and bodily presence as they term 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 VVherefore 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 aginst Gods VVord VVhosoever through his private judgment willingly and purposely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church which be not repugnant to the Word of God and be ordained and approved by common authority ought to be rebuked openly that other may fear to do the like as 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 wholsom 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 and 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 aforesaid Authority are godly and in no point repugnant to the wholsom Doctrine of the Gospel but agreable 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 and allowed with all readiness of mind and thanksgiving and to be commended to the people of God Of Civil Magistrates THe King of England is supreme 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 only 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 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 alms to the poor according to his ability Christian men may take an Oath AS we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Iesu Christ and his Apostle James 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 Porphets teaching in justice judgment and truth The Resurrection of the Dead is not yet brought to pass THe Resurrection of the dead is not as yet brought to pass as though it only belonged to the soul which by the grace of Christ is called 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 virtuously or wickedly The Souls of them that depart this life do neither die with the bodies nor sleep idlely THey which say that the souls of such as depart hence do sleep being without all sense feeling or perceiving until the day of judgment or affirm that the souls die 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
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 Governor of this Realm as well in causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal You shall also pray for the Ministers of Gods holy Word and Sacraments as well Archbishops and Bishops as other Pastors and Curates You shall also pray for the Queens most honourable Council and for all the Nobility of this Realm that all and every of these in their calling may serve truly and painfully to the glory of God and edifying of his people remembring the account that they must make Also ye shall pray for the whole Commons of this Realm that they may live in true faith and fear of God in humble obedience and brotherly charity one to another Finally let us praise God for all those that are departed out of this life in the Faith of Christ and pray unto God that we may have grace for to direct our lives after their good examâ—le that after this life we with them may be made partakers of the glorious Resurrection in the life everlasting And this done shew the holy-days and fasting days ALL and singular which Injunctions the Queens Majesty ministreth unto her Clergy and to all other her loving subjects straightly charging and commanding them to observe and keep the same upon pain of deprivation sequestration of fruits and Benefices suspension excommunication and such other correction as to Ordinaries or other having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction whom her Majesty hath appointed or shall appoint 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 her Majesty for the contrary And her Highness 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 ARTICLES Agreed upon by the ARCHBISHOPS and BISHOPS OF BOTH PROVINCES And the whole CLERGY IN THE CONVOCATION Holden at LONDON in the year 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of Opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching True Religion Reprinted by his Majesties Commandment With his Royal Declaration prefixed thereunto LONDON Printed by Bonham Norton and John Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1630. His Majesties Declaration BEing by Gods Ordinance according to Our just Title Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church within these Our Dominions We hold it most agreable to this Our Kingly Office and Our own Religious Zeal to conserve and maintain the Church committed to Our Charge in Unity of True Religion and in the Bond of Peace and not to suffer unnecessary Disputations Altercations or Questions to be raised which may nourish Faction both in the Church and Commonwealth We have therefore upon Mature Deliberation and with the Advice of so many of Our Bishops as might conveniently be called together thought fit to make this Declaration following That the Articles of the Church of England which have been allowed and authorised heretofore and which Our Clergy generally have subscribed unto do contain the true Doctrine of the Church of England agreable to Gods Word which We do therefore Ratifie and Confirm requiring all Our loving Subjects to continue in the Uniform Profession thereof and prohibiting the least difference from the said Articles which to that end We Command to be new Printed and this Our Declaration to be Published therewith That We are Supreme Governor of the Church of England and that if any difference arise about the External Policy concerning the Injunctions Canons or other Constitutions whatsoever thereto belonging the Clergy in their Convocation is to Order and Settle them having first obtained leave under Our Broad Seal so to do and We approving their said Ordinances and Constitutions providing that none be made contrary to the Laws and Customs of the Land That out of our Princely Care that the Church-men may do the work which is proper unto them the Bishops and Clergy from time to time in Convocation upon their Humble desire shall have License under Our Broad Seal to deliberate of and to do all such things as being made plain by them and assented unto by Us shall concern the setled continuance of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established from which We will not endure any varying or departing in the least Degree That for the present though some differences have been ill raised yet We take Comfort in this that all Clergy-men within Our Realm have always most willingly subscribed to the Articles established which is an Argument to Us that they all agree in the True usual literal meaning of the said Articles and that even in those curious points in which the present Differences lie Men of all sorts take the Articles of the Church of England to be for them which is an Argument again that none of them intend any Desertion of the Articles established That therefore in these both curious and unhappy Differences which have for so many hundred years in different times and places exercised the Church of Christ We will that all further curious search be laid aside and these Disputes shut up in Gods Promises as they be generally set forth to us in the Holy Scriptures and the general meaning of the Articles of the Church of England according to them And that no Man hereafter shall either Print or Preach to draw the Article aside any way but shall submit to it in the plain and full meaning thereof And shall not put his own sense or Comment to be the meaning of the Article but shall take it in the Literal and Grammatical Sense That if any publick Reader in either Our Universities or any Head or Master of a Colledge or any other person respectively in either of them shall affix any new sense to any Article or shall publickly read determine or hold any publick Disputation or suffer any such to be held either way in either the Universities or Colledges respectively or if any Divine in the Universities shall Preach or Print any thing either way other than is already established in Convocation with our Royal Assent he or they the Offenders shall be liable to our Displeasure and the Churches censure in Our Commission Ecclesiastical as well as any other and We will see there shall be due execution upon them ARTICLES OF RELIGION Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisdom and goodness the Maker Preserver of all things both visible and invisible And in unity of this Godhead there be three persons of one substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost 2. Of the Word or Son of God which was made very man THe Son which is the Word of
the Father Haec notata non habentur in Edw. 6. begotten from everlasting of the Father the very and eternal God of one substance with the Father took mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance so that two whole and perfect Natures that is say the Godhead and Manhood were joyned together in one person never to be divided whereof is one Christ very God and very man who truly suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt but also for actual sins of men 3. Of the going down of Christ into Hell AS Christ died for us and was buried Nam Corpus usque ad resurrectionem in Sepulchro jacuit spiritus ab illo emissus cum spiritibus qui in carcere sive in inferno detinebantur fuit illisque praedicavit quemadmodum testatur Petri locus Sic Artic Edw. 6. so also is it to be believed that he went down into Hell 4. Of the Resurrection of Christ CHrist did truly rise again from death and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day 5. Of the holy Ghost Non habentur in R. Edw. 6. Artic. THE holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one Substance Majesty and Glory with the Father and the Son very and eternal God 6. Of the sufficiency of the holy Scriptures for Salvation HOly Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein †Licet intetdum a fidelibus ut pium conducibile ad ordinem decorum admittatur nor may be proved thereby * is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an Article of Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the Names and numbers of the Canonical Books Non habetur in R Edw 6. Artic. GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numeri Deuteronomium Josue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or Songs of Salom. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets theless And the other Books as Hierome saith the Church doth read for example of life and insturction of manners but yet doth not apply them to establish any Doctrine Such are these following The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdom Jesus the Son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The Prayer of Manasses The 1. Book of Maccabees The 2. Book of Maccabees All the Books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical 7. Of the Old Testament THe Old Testament is not contrary to the New Testamentum vetus quasi novo contrarium sit non est repudiendum ed retisnendum for both in the Old and New Testaments everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises Although the Law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites do not bind Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common-wealth Vid. haec Art 18. notata ex R. Edw. yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral 8. Of the three Creeds THE three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrant of holy Scripture 9. Of Original or Birth-sin ORiginal sin standeth not in the following of Adam as the Pelagians do vainly talk †Et hodie Anabaptistae repetunt but is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature inclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit and therefore in every person born into this world it deserveth Gods wrath damnation And this infection of nature doth remain yea in them that are regenerated whereby the lust of the flesh called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expound the wisdom some sensuality some the affection some the desire of the flesh is not subject to the Law of God And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath of it self the nature of sin De Gratia GRatia Christi seu S. Spiritus qui per eundem datur cor lapideum aufert dat cor carneum Atque licet ex nolentibus quae recta sunt volentes faciat ex volentibus prava nolentes reddat voluntati nihilominus violentiam nullam infert nemo hâc de causâ cum peccaverit sâ—ipsum excusare potest quasi nolens aut coactus peccaverit ut eam ob causam accusare non mereatur aut damnari Artic. Edwardi 6. decimus 10. Of Free-will THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the Grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will 11. Of the Justification of Man WE are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ by faith Haec non habentur in Reg. Edward 9. Artic. Justificatio ex sola Fide Jesu Christi eo sensu quo in Homilia de Justificatione explicatur est certissima saluberrima Christianorum doctrina Sic in Reg. Edward 6. Artic. 11. and not for our own works or deservings Wherefore that we are justified by faith only is a most wholsom Doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification 12. Of good works ALbeit that good works which are the fruits of faith and follow after Iustification Hic Artic non habetur
distinctly in such place as the Ordinary shall think meet for the largeness and straightness of the Church and Quire so that the people may be most edified Item That no Parson or Curate not admitted by the Bishop of the Diocess to preach do expound in his own Cure or otherwhere any Scripture or matter of Doctrine or by the way of Exhortation but only study to read gravely and aptly without any glossing of the same or any additions the Homilies already set out or other such necessary Doctrine as is or shall be prescribed for the quiet instruction and edification of the people Item That in Cathedral Churches and Colledges the holy Communion be ministred upon the first or second Sunday of every month at the least So that both Dean Prebendaries Priests and Clerks do receive all other at discretion of the foundation do receive four times in the year at least Item In the ministration of the holy Communion in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches the principal Minister shall wear a Cope with Gospeller and Epistoler agreeably and at all other pâ—ayers to be said at that Communion-Table to use no Copes but Surplices Item That the Dean and Prebendaries wear a Surplice with a Silk Hood in the Quire and when they preach to wear their Hood Item That every Minister saying any publick prayers or ministring the Sacraments or other Rites of the Church shall wear a comely Surplice with Sleeves to be provided at the charges of the Parish and that the Parish provide a decent Table standing on a frame for the Communion-Table Item They shall decently cover with Carpet Silk or other decent covering and with a fair Linnen Cloth at the time of ministration the Communion-Table and to set the Ten Commandments upon the East wall over the said Table Item That all Communicants do receive kneeling and as is appointed by the Laws of the Realm and the Queens Majesties Injunctions Item That the Font be not removed nor that the Curate do Baptize in Parish-Churches in Basons nor in any other form than is already prescribed without charging the parent to be present or absent at the Christning of his Child although the parent may be present or absent but not to answer as Godfather for his Child Item That no Child be admitted to answer as Godfather or Godmother except the Child hath received the Communion Item That there be none other holy-days observed besides the Sundays but only such as be set out for holy-days as in the Statute Anno quinto sexto Edwardi sexti and in the new Kalender authorized by the Queens Majesty Item That when any Christian body is in passing that the Bell be tolled and that the Curate be specially called for to comfort the sick person and after the time of his passing to ring no more but one short peal and one before the burial and another short peal after the burial Item That on Sundays there be no Shops open nor Artificers commonly going about their affairs worldly And that in all Fairs and common Markets falling upon the Sunday their be no shewing of any Wares before the Service be done Item That in the Rogation-days of Procession they sing or say in English the two Psalms beginning Benedic anima mea c. with the Letany and Suffrages thereunto with one Homily of thanksgiving to God already devised and divided into four parts without addition of any superstitious Ceremonies heretofore used Articles for certain Orders in Ecclesiastical Policy FIrst against the day of giving Orders appointed the Bishop shall give open monitions to all men to except against such as they know not to be worthy either for life or conversation And there to give notice that none shall sue for Orders but within their own Diocess where they were born or had their long time of dwelling except such as shall be of degree in the Vniversities Item That young Priests or Ministers made or to be made be so instructed that they be able to make apt answers concerning the form of the Catechism prescribed Item That no Curate of Minister be permitted to serve without examination and admission of the Ordinary or his Deputy in writing having respect to the greatness of the Cure and the meetness of the party and that the said Ministers if they remove from one Diocess to another be by no means admitted to serve without testimony of the Diocesan from whence they come in writing of their honesty and ability Item That the Bishop do call home once in the year any Prebendary in his Church or benefices in the Diocess which studieth at the Vniversities to know how he profiteth in learning and that he be not suffered to be a serving or waiting man dissolutely Item That at the Archdeacons Visitation the Archdeacon shall appoint the Curate to certain texts of the New Testament to be couâ—d without Book And at the next Synod to exact a rehearsal of them Item That the Church-wardens once in the quarter declare by their Curates in Bills subscribed with their hands to the Ordinary or to the next officer under him who they be which will not readily pay their penalties for not coming to Gods Divine Service accordingly Item That the Ordinaries do use good diligent examination to foresee all Simoniacal pacts or covenants with the Patrons or Presenters for the spoyl of their glebe tythes or mansion-houses Item That no persons be suffered to marry within the Levitical degrees mentioned in a Table set forth by the Archbishop of Canterbury in that behalf An. Dom 1563. and if any such be to be separated by order of Law Articles for outward apparel of persons Ecclesiastical FIrst That all Archbishops and Bishops do use and continue their accustomed apparel Item That all Deans of Cathedral Churches Masters of Colledges Archdeacons and other dignities in Cathedral Churches Doctors Batchelers of Divinity and Law having Ecclesiastical Living shall wear in their common apparel abroad a side Gown with sleeves straight at the hand without any cuts in the same And that also without any falling cape and to wear tippets of Sarcenet as is lawful for them by that Act of Parliament Anno 24. Henrici octavi Item That all Doctors of Physick or of any other faculty having any Living Ecclesiastical or any other that may dispend by the Church one hundred marks so to be esteemed by the fruits or tenths of their Promotions and all Prebendaries whose promotions be valued at twenty pounds or upward wear the like apparel Item That they and all Ecclesiastical persons or other having any Ecclesiastical Living do wear the Cap appointed by the Injunctions And they to wear no Hats but in their journying Item That they in their journying do wear their Cloaks with sleeves put on and like in fashion to their Gowns without gards welts or cuts Item That in their private houses and studies they use their own liberty of comely apparel Item That all inferiour Ecclesiastical persons shall wear long
with the grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Son of God we beseech the to hear us Son of God we beseech the to hear us O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant us thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world Have mercy upon us O Christ hear us O Christ hear us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in heaven c. And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil Amen The Versicle O Lord deal not with us after our sins Answer Neither reward us after our iniquities ¶ Let us pray Ood merciful Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles and adversities whensoever they oppress us and graciously hear us that those evils which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man worketh against us be brought to nought and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed thar we thy servants being hurt by no persecutions may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thy names sake O God we have heard with our ears and our fathers have declared unto us the noble works that thou didst in their days and in the old time before them O Lord arise help us and deliver us for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. As it was in the beginning is now c. From our Enemies defend us O Christ Graciously look upon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people Favourably with mercy hear our prayers O Son of David have mercy upon us Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us O Christ Graciously hear us O Christ graciously hear us O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy be shewed upon us Answer As we do put our trust in thee Let us pray WE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to look upon our infirmities and for the glory of thy Names sake turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living to thy honour and glory through our only Mediator and Advocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ALmighty God which hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee and dost promis that when two or three be gathered together in thy Name thou wile grant their requests fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy servanta as may be most expedient for them granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting Amen ¶ Then shall be said also this that followeth ALmighty God which by thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church and didst inspire thine holy Apostles to chuse unto this Order of Deacons the first Martyr St. Stephen with other mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the like office and administration replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of the Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesu Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost now and for ever Amen Then shall be sung or said the Communion of the day saving the Epistle shall be read out of Timothy as followeth LIkewise must the Ministers be honest not double-tongued not given unto much wine neither greedy of filthy lucre but holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience and let them first be proved and then let them minister so that no man be able to reprove them Even so must theâ—r wives be honest not evil speakers but sober and faithful in all things Let the Deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well and their own housholds for they that minister well get themselves a good degree and a great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu These things write I unto thee trusting to come shortly unto thee but and if I tarry long that then thou mayest yet have knowledge how thou oughest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the congregation of the living God the pillar and ground of truth And without doubt great is that mystery of godliness God was shewed in the flesh was justified in the spirit was seen among the angels was preached unto the Gentiles was believed in on the world and received up into glory Or else this out of the sixth of the Acts. THen the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said It is not meet that we should leave the word of God and serve tables wherefore brethren look you out among you seven men of honest report and full of the holy Ghost and wisdom to whom we may commit this business but we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the administration of the word And that saying pleased the whole multitude And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and full of the holy Ghost and Philip and Brochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas a convert of Antioch These they set before the Apostles and when they had prayed they laid their hands on them And the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great number of the Priests were obedient unto the faith And before the Gospel the Bishop setting in a chair shall cause the Oath of the Kings Supremacy and against the power and authority of all foreign Potentates to be ministred unto every of them that are to be ordered ¶ The Oath of the Kings Soveraignty I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highness is the only supreme Governour of this Realm and of all other his Highness Dominions and Countries as well in all spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as temporal and that no foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction power superiority pre-eminence or authority Ecclesiastical or spiritual within this Realm and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign jurisdictions powers superiorities and au horities and do promise that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highness his heirs and lawful successours and to my power shall assist and
of his dear beloved Son we may attain the sight And that with perfect faith also we may acknowledge thee The Spirit of them both alway one God in persons three Laud and praise be to the Father and to the Son equal And to the only Spirit also one God coeternal And pray we that the holy Son vouchsafe his Spirit to send To all that do profess his Name unto the worlds end Amen And then the Archdeacon shall present unto the Bishop all them that shall receive the Order of Priesthood that day the Archdeacon saying REverend Father in God I present unto you these persons present to be admitted to the Order of Priesthood Cum interrogatione responsione ut in ordine Diaconatus And then the Bishop shall say to the people GOod people these be they whom we purpose God willing to receive this day unto the holy office of Priesthood for after due examination we find not to the contrary but that they be lawfully called to their function and ministery and that they pe persons meet for the same But yet if there be any of you which knoweth any impediment or notable crime of any of them for which he ought not to be received into this holy ministery now in the Name of God declare the same And if any great crime or impediment be objected Vt supra in Ordine Diaconatus usque ad finem Litaniae cum hac Collecta ALmighty God giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in the Church mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the office of Priesthood and replenish them so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and good example they may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Bishop shall minister unto every one of them the Oath concerning the Kings Supremacy as is set forth in the Order of Deacons And that done he shall say unto them which are appointed to receive the said Office as hereafter followeth YOu have heard brethren as well in your private examination as in the exhortation and in the holy lessons taken out of the Gospel and of the writings of the Apostles of what dignity and of how great importance this office is whereunto ye he called And how we exhort you in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ to have in remembrance into how high a dignity and to how chargeable an office ye be called that is to say the Messengesrs and Watchmen the Pastors and the Stewards of the Lord to teach to premouish to feed and provide for the Lords family to seek for Christs sheep that be dispersed abroad and for his children which be in the midst of this naughty world to be saved through Christ for ever Have always therefore printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge for they be the sheep of Christ which he bought with his death and for whom he shed his blood The Church and Congregation whom you must serve is his Spouse and Body And if it shall chance the same Church or any member thereof to take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence you know the greatness of the fault and also of the horrible punishment which will ensue Wherefore consider with your selves the end of your Ministery towards the children of God towards the Spouse and Body of Christ and see that you never cease your labour your care and diligence until you have done all that lieth in you according to your bounden duty to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge unto that agreement in faith and knowledge of God and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ that there be no place left among you either of error in Religion or for viciousness of life Then for as much as your office is both of so great excellency and of so great difficulty ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply your selves as well that ye may shew your selves kind to that Lord who hath placed you in so high a dignity as also to beware that neither you your selves offend neither be occasion that other offend Howbeit ye cannot have a mind and a will thereto of our selves for that power and ability is given of God alone Therefore ye see how ye ought and have need earnestly to pray for his holy Spirit And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work pertaining to the salvation of man but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the holy Scripture and with a life agreeable unto the same Ye perceive how studious ye ought to be in reading and in learning the Scriptures and in framing the manners both of your selves and of them that specially pertain unto you according to the rule of the same Scriptures And for this self-same cause ye see how ye ought to forsake and set aside as much as you may all worldly cares and studies We have good hope that you have well-weighed and pondered these things with your selves long before this time and that you have clearly determined by Gods grace to give your selves wholly to this vocation whereunto it hath pleased God to cal you so that as much as lieth in you you apply your selves wholly to this one thing and draw all your cares and studies this way and to this end And that you will continually pray for the heavenly assistance of the holy Ghost from God the Father by the mediation of our only Mediator and Saviour Iesus Christ that by daily reading and weighing of the Scriptures ye may so wax riper and stronger in your Ministry and that ye may so endeavor your selves from time to time to sanctifie the lives of you and yours and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ and that ye may be wholsom and godly examples and patterns for the rest of the Congregation to follow and that this present Congregation of Christ here assembled may also understand your minds and wills in these things and that this your promise shall move you to do your duties ye shall answer plainly to these things which we in the name of the Congregation demand of you touching the same Do you think in your heart that you be truly called according to the will of our Lord Iesu Christ and the Order of this Church of England to the Ministery of Priest-hood Answer I think it The Bishop BE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Iesu Christ And are you determined with the said Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach nothing as required of
into rebuke and the snare of the evil speaker The Gospel JEsus said to Simon Peter Simon Johanna lovest thou me more than these He said unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him feed my lambs He said to him again the second time Simon Johanna lovest thou me He said to him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he said unto him Feed my sheep He said unto him the third time Simon Johanna lovest thou me Peter was sorry because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Iesus said unto him Feed my sheep Or else out of the tenth Chapter of John as before in the order of Priests After the Gospel and Creed ended first the elected Bishop shall be presented by two Bishops unto the Archbishop of that Province or some other Bishop appointed by his Commission the Bishops that present him saying MOst reverend Father in God we present unto you this godly and well-learned man to be Consecrated Bishop Then shall the Archbishop demand the Kings Mandate for the Consecration and cause it to be read and the Oath touching the Knowledge of the Kings Supremacy shall be ministred to the persons elected as it is set out in the order of Deacons And then shall be ministred the Oath of due obedience unto the Archbishop as followeth The Oath of due obedience to the Archbishop IN the Name of God Amen I. N. chosen Bishop of the Church or See of N. do profess and promise all due reverence and obedience to the Archbishop and to the Metropolitan Church of N. and to their Successors So help me God through Jesus Christ This Oath shall not be made at the Consecration of an Archbishop Then the Archbishop shall move the Congregation present to pray saying thus to them BRethren it is written in the Gospel of St. Luke that our Saviour Christ continued the whole night in prayer or ever that he did chuse and send forth his twelve Apostles It is written also in the Acts of the Apostles that the Disciples which were at Antioch did fast and pray or ever the laid hands upon or sent forth Paul and Barnabas Let us therefore follow the example of our Saviour Christ and his Apostles first fall to prayer or that we admit and send forth this person presented unto us to the work whereunto we trust the holy Ghost hath called him And then shall be said the Litany as afore in the order of Deacons And after this place That it may please thee illuminate all Bishops c. That it may please thee to bless this our brother elected and to send thy grace upon him that he may duly execute the office whereunto he is called to the edifying of the Church and to the honour praise and glory of thy Name Answer We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. Concluding the Letany in the end with this Prayer ALmighty God the giver of all good things which by thy holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders and Ministers in thy Church mercifully behold this thy servant now called to the work and ministry of a Bishop and replenish him so with the truth of thy Doctrine and innocency of life that both by word and deed he may faithfully serve thee in this office to the glory of thy Name and profit of thy Congregation through the merits of our Saviour Iesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Then the Archbishop sitting in a Chair shall say to him that is to be Consecrated BRother forasmuch as holy Scripture and the old Canons commandeth that we should not be hasty in laying on hands and admitting of any person to the government of the Congregation of Christ which he hath purchased with no less price than the effusion of his own blood afore I admit you to this administration whereunto you are called I will examine you in certain Articles to the end the Congregation present may have a trial and bear witness how you be minded to behave your self in the Church of God Are you perswaded that you be truly called to this ministration according to the will of our Lord Iesus Christ and the order of this Realm Answer I am so perswaded The Archbishop ARE you perswaded that the holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all Doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through the faith in Iesus Christ And are you determined with the same holy Scriptures to instruct the people committed to your charge and to teach or maintain nothing as required of necessity to eternal salvation but that you shall be perswaded may be concluded and proved by the same Answer I am so perswaded and determined by Gods grace The Achbishop WIll you then faithfully exercise your self in the said holy Scriptures and call upon God by prayer for the true understanding of the same so as ye may be able by them to teach and exhort with wholsome Doctrine and to withstand and convince the gainsayers Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop BE you ready with all faithful diligence to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange Doctrines contrary to Gods Word and both privately and openly to call upon and encourage others to the same Answer I am ready the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly righteously and godly in this world that you may shew your self in all things an example of good works unto others that the adversary may be ashamed having nothing to lay against you Answer I will so do the Lord being my helper The Archbishop WIll you maintain and set forwards as much as in you lieth quietness peace and love among all men and such as be unquiet disobedient and criminous within your Diocess correct and punish according to such authority as ye have by Gods Word as to you shall be committed by the ordinance of this Realm Answer I will so do by the help of God The Archbishop WIll you shew your self gentle and be merciful for Christs sake to poor and needy people and to all strangers destitute of help Answer I will so shew my self by Gods help The Archbishop ALmighty God our heavenly Father who hath given you a good will to do all these things grant also unto you strength and power to performe the same that be accomplishing in you the good work which he hath begun ye may be found perfect and irreprehensible at the latter day through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Then shall be sung or said Come holy Ghost c. As it is set out in the order of Priests That ended the Archbishop shall say Lord hear our prayer Answer And let our cry come unto thee ¶ Let us pray ALmighty God and most merciful Father which of thine infinite goodness hast given thy only and most dear beloved Son
the Government established for causes Ecclesiastical within her Majesties Dominions have devised written printed or caused to be seditiously and secretly published and dispersed sundry schismatical and seditious Books diffamatory Libels and other phantastical writings amongst her Majesties subjects containing in them Doctrine very erroneous and other matters notoriously untrue and slanderous to the State and against the godly reformation of Religion and Government Ecclesiastical established by Law and so quietly of long time continued and also against the persons of Bishops and others placed in authority Ecclesiastical under her Highness by her authority in railing sort and beyond the bounds of all good humanity All which Books Libels and Writings tend by their scope to persuade and bring in a monstrous and apparent dangerous Innovation within her Dominions and Countries of all manner of Ecclesiastical Government now in use and to the abridging or rather to the overthrow of her Highness lawful Prerogative allowed by Gods Law and established by the Laws of the Realm and consequently to reverse dissolve and set at Liberty the present Government of the Church and to make a dangerous change of the form of Doctrine and use of Divine Service of God and the ministration of the Sacraments now also in use with a rash and malicious purpose also to dissolve the Estate of the Prelacy being one of the three ancient Estates of this Realm under her Highness whereof her Majesty mindeth to have such reverend regard as to their places in the Church and Common wealth appertaineth All which said lewd and seditious practises do directly tend to the manifest wilful breach of great number of good Laws and Statutes of this Realm inconveniences nothing regarded by such Innovations In consideration whereof her Highness graciously minding to provide some good and speedy remedy to withstand such notable dangerous and ungodly attempts and for that purpose to have such enormous male factors discovered and condignly punished doth signifie this her Highness misliking and indignation of such dangerous and wicked enterprises and for that purpose doth hereby will and also straightly charge and command that all persons whatsoever within any her Majesties Realms and Dominions who have or hereafter shall have any of the said seditious Books Pamphlets Libels or Writings or any of like nature already published or hereafter to be published in his or their custody containing such matters as above are mentioned against the present Order and Government of the Church of England or the lawful Ministers thereof or against the Rites and Ceremonies used in the Church and allowed by the Laws of the Realm That they and every of them do presently after with convenient speed bring in and deliver up the same unto the Ordinary of the Diocess or of the place where they inhabit to the intent they may be utterly defaced by the said Ordinary or otherwise used by them And that from henceforth no person or persons whatsoever be so hardy as to write contrive print or cause to be published or distributed or to keep any of the same or any other Books Libels or Writings of like nature and quality contrary to the true meaning and intent of this her Majesties Proclamation And likewise that no man hereafter give any instruction direction favour or assistance to the contriving writing printing publishing or dispersing of the same or such like Books Libels or Writings whatsoever as they tender her Majesties good favour will avoid her high displeasure and as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils and upon such pains and penalties as by the Law any way may be inflicted upon the offenders in any of these behalfs as persons maintaining such seditious actions which her Majesty mindeth to have severely executed And if any person have had knowledge of the Authors Writers Printers or despersers thereof which shall within one month after the publicacyon hereof discover the same to the Ordinary of the place where he had such knowledg or to any of her Majesties Privy Council the same person shall not for his former concealment be hereafter molested or troubled Given at her Majesties Palace at Westminster the xiii of February 1588. In the xxxi year of her Highness Reign God Save the Queen Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker Printer to the Queens Most Excellent Majesty 1588. ARTICLES To be Enquired in the VISITATION IN THE First year of the Reign of our most dread Soveraign Lady ELIZABETH By the Grace of God Of England France and Ireland QUEEN Defender of the Faith Anno Domini 1559. Articles c. Anno 1559. FIrst Whether any Parson Residency Vicar or Curate be resident continually upon his Benefice doing his duty in preaching reading and duly ministring the holy Sacraments Item False miracles Whether in their Churches and Chappels all Images Shrines all Tables Candlesticks Trindals and Rolls of Wax Pictures Paintings and all oher monuments of feigned and false Miracles Pilgrimages Idolatry and Superstition be removed abolished and destroyed Item Whether they do not every holy-day The Lords prayer when they have no Sermon immediately after the Gospel openly plainly and distinctly recite to their Parishioners in the Pulpit the Lords Prayer the Belief and the Ten Commandments in English Item Whether they do charge Fathers and Mothers To bring up youth Masters and Governors of Youth to bring them up in some vertuous study and occupation Item Curates Whether such beneficed men as be lawfully absent from their Benefices do leave their Cures to a rude and unlearned person and not to an honest well-learned and expert Curate which can and will teach you wholsom Doctrine Item Whether they do discourage any person from reading of any part of the Bible either in Latine or English Reading the Scriptures and do not rather comfort and exhort every person to read the same at convenient times as the very lively word of God and the sPecial food of mans soul Item Whether Parsons Vicars Taverns and games Curates and other Ministers be common haunters and resorters to Taverns or Ale-houses giving themselves to drinking rioting and playing at unlawful games and do not occupy themselves in the reading or hearing of some part of the holy Scripture or in some other godly exercise Item Preachers Whether they have admitted any man to preach in their Cures not being lawfully licensed thereunto or have been licensed accordingly Item Whether they use to declare to their Parishioners any thing to the extolling or setting forth of vain and usperstitious Religion Pilgrimages Relicks or Images Superstition or lighting of Candles kissing kneeling or decking of the same Images Register Item Whether they have one Book or Register kept wherein they write the day of every Wedding Christning and Burying 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
said High Court of Chancery whom it shall concern may be commanded to send out the aforesaid Writ from time to time as is desired for that it would much exhaust the particular estates of the Ordinaries to sue out several Writs at their own charge And that the like command also may be laid upon the Sheriffs and their Deputies for the due and faithful execution of the said Writs as often as they shall be brought unto them And to the end that this Canon may take the better and speedier effect and not to be deluded or delayed We further Decree and Ordain That no Popish Recusant who shall persist in the said sentence of Excommunication beyond the time prescribed by Law shall be absolved by vertue of any Appeal in any Ecclesiastical Court unless the said party shall first in his or her own Person and not by a Proctor take the usual Oath De parendo Juri stando mandatis Ecclesiae IV. Against Socinianism WHereas much mischief is already done in the Church of God by the spreading of the damnable and Cursed Heresie of Socinianism as being a complication of many ancient Heresies condemned by the four first general Councils and contrariant to the Articles of Religion now established in the Church of England And whereas it is too apparent that the said wicked and blasphemous errors are unhappily dilated by the frequent divulgation and dispersion of dangerous Books written in favor and furtherance of the same whereby many especially of the younger or unsetled sort of People may be poysoned and infected It is therefore decreed by this present Synod that no Stationer Printer or Importer of the said Books or any other person whatsoever shall print buy sell or disperse any Book hroaching or maintaining of the said abominable Doctrine or Positions upon pain of Excommunication ipso facto to be thereupon incurred And we require all Ordinaries upon pain of the Censures of the Church that beside the Excommunication aforesaid they do certifie their names and offenses under their Episcopal Seal to the Metropolitan by him to be delivered to his Majesties Attorney-General for the time being to be proceeded withal according to the late Decree in the Honorable Court of Star-Chamber against the spreaders of prohibited Books And that no Preacher shall presume to vent any such Doctrine in any Sermon under pain of Excommunication for the first offence and Deprivation for the second And that no Student in either of the Universities of this Land nor any person in holy Orders excepting Graduates in Divinity or such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or Doctors of Law in holy Orders shall be suffered to have or read any such Socinian Book or Discourse under pain if the offendor live in the University that he shall be punished according to the strictest Statutes provided there against the publishing reading or maintaining of false Doctrine or if he live in the City or Country abroad of a Suspension for the first offence and Excommunication for the Second and Deprivation for the third unless he will absolutely and in terminis abjure the same And if any Lay-man shall be seduced into this Opinion and be convicted of it he shall be Excommunicated and not absolved but upon due repentance and abjuration and that before the Metropolitan or his own Bishop at the least And we likewise enjoyn that such Books if they be found in any prohibited hand shall be immediately burned and that there be a diligent search made by the appointment of the Ordinary after all such Books in what hands soever except they be now in the hands of any Graduate in Divinity and such as have Episcopal or Archidiaconal Jurisdiction or any Doctor of Laws in holy Orders as aforesaid and that all who now have them except before excepted be strictly commanded to bring in the said Books in the Universities to the Vicechancellors and out of the Universities to the Bishops who shall return them to such whom they dare trust with the reading of the said Books and shall cause the rest to be burned And we farther enjoyn that diligent enquiry be made after all such that shall maintain and defend the aforesaid Socinianism and when any such shall be detected that they be complained of to the several Bishops respectively who are required by this Synod to repress them from any such propagation of the aforesaid wicked and detestable Opinions V. Against Sectaries WHereas there is a provision now made by a Canon for the suppressing of Popery and the growth thereof by subjecting all Popish Recusants to the greatest severity of Ecclesiastical Censures in that behalf This present Synod well knowing that there are other Sects which endeavor the subversion both of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England no less than Papists do although by another way for the preventing thereof doth hereby decree and Ordain that all those proceedings and penalties which are mentioned in the aforesaid Canon against Popish Recusants as far as they shall be appliable shall stand in full force and vigour against all Anabaptists Brownists Separatists Familists or other Sect or Sects person or persons whatsoever who do or shall either obstinately refuse or ordinarily not having a lawful impediment that is for the space of a month neglect to repair to their Parish Churches or Chappels where they inhabit for the hearing of Divine Service established and receiving of the holy Communion according to Law And we do also further decree and ordain That the Clause contained in the Canon now made by this Synod against the Books of Socinianism shall also extend to the Makers Importers Printers and Publishers or Dispersers of any Book Writing or scandalous Pamphlet devised against the Discipline and Government of the Church of England and unto the maintainers and Abettors of any Opinion or Doctrine against the same And further because there are sprung up among us a sort factious of people Despisers and Depravers of the Book of Common-Prayer who do not according to the Law resort to their Parish-Church or Chappel to joyn in Publick Prayers Service and Worship of God with the Congregation contenting themselves with the hearing of Sermons only thinking thereby to avoid the penalties due to such as wholly absent themselves from the Church We therefore for the restraint of all such wilful contemners or neglecters of the Service of God do ordain That the Church or Chappel-Wardens and Questmen or Side-men of every Parish shall be careful to enquire out all such disaffected persons and shall present the names of all such Delinquents at all Visitations of Bishops and other Ordinaries And that the same proceedings and penalties mentioned in the Canon aforesaid respectively shall be used against them as against other Recusants unless within one whole month after they are first denounced they shall make acknowledgment and reformation of that their fault Provided always that this Canon shall not derogate from any other Canon Law or
Statute in that behalf provided against those Sectaries VI. An Oath enjoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government THis present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and constancy in the profession of the Doctrine and Discipline already established in the Church of England and to secure all men against any suspition of revolt to Popery or any other superstition decrees That all Archbishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places exempt or not exempt shall before the second day of November next ensuing take this Oath following against all Innovation of Doctrine or Discipline and this Oath shall be tendred them and every of them and all others named after in this Canon by the Bishop in person or his Chancellour or some grave Divines named and appointed by the Bishop under the Seal and the said Oath shall be taken in the presence of a publick Notary who is hereby required to make an Act of it leaving the Universities to the Provision which follows The Oath is I A. B. do swear That I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England a containing all things necessary to salvation And that I will not endeavor by my self or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the See of Rome And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sence and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I do heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ And if any man Beneficed or Dignified in the Church of England or any other Ecclesiastical person shall refuse to take this Oath the Bishop shall give him a months time to inform himself and at the months end if he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab Officio and have a second month granted and if then he refuse to take it he shall be suspended ab officio beneficio and have a third month granted him for his better information but if at the end of that month he refuse to take the Oath above-named he shall by the Bishop be deprived of all his Ecclesiastical Promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England We likewise Constitute and Ordain That all Masters of Arts the sons of Noble-men only excepted all Batchelors and Doctors in Divinity Law or Physick all that are licensed to practice Physick all Registers Actuaries and Proctors all School-masters all such as being Natives or naturalized do come to be incorporated into the Universities here having taken a Degree in any foreign University shall be bound to take the said Oath And we command all Governors of Colledges and Halls in either of the Universities that they administer the said Oath to all persons resident in their several Houses that have taken the Degrees before-mentioned in this Canon within six months after the publication hereof And we likewise Constitute That all Bishops shall be bound to give the said Oath unto all those to whom they give holy Orders at the time of their Ordination or to whomsoever they give Collation Institution or License to Preach or serve any Cure VII A Declaration concerning some Rites and Ceremonies BEcause it is generally to be wished that unity of Faith were accompanied with uniformity of practice in the outward worship and service of God chiefly for the avoiding of groundless suspitions of those who are weak and the malitious aspersions of the professed Enemies of our Religion the one fearing the Innnovations the other flattering themselves with the vain hope of our backslidings unto their Popish superstition by reason of the situation of the Communion-Table and the approaches thereunto the Synod declareth as followeth That the standing of the Communion-Table side-way under the East-window of every Chancel or Chappel is in its own nature indifferent neither commanded nor condemned by the Word of God either expresly or by immediate deduction and therefore that no Religion is to be placed therein or scruple to be made thereon And albeit at the time of Reforming this Church from that gross superstition of Popery it was carefully provided that all means should be used to root out of the minds of the people both the inclination thereunto and memory thereof especially of the Idolatry committed in the Mass for which cause all Popish Altars were demolished yet notwithstanding it was then ordered by the Injunctions and Advertisements of Queen Elizabeth of blessed memory that the holy Tables should stand in the place where the Altars stood and accordingly have been continued in the Royal Chappels of three famous and pious Princes and in most Cathedral and some Parochial Churches which doth sufficiently acquit the manner of placing the said Tables from any allegality or just suspition of Popish su-superstition or innovation And therefore we judge it fit and convenient that all Churches and Chappels do conform themselves in this particular to the example of the Cathedral or Mother Churthes saving always the general liberty left to the Bishop by Law during the time of Administration of the holy Communion And we declare that this scituation of the holy Table doth not imply that it is or ought to be esteemed a true and proper Altar whereon Christ is again really sacrificed but it is and may be called and Altar by us in that sence in which the Primitive Church called it an Altar and in no other And because experience hath shewed us how irreverent the behaviour of many people is in many places some leaning others casting their hats and some sitting upon some standing and others sitting under the Communinion-Table in time of Divine Service for the avoiding of these and the like abuses it is thought meet and convenient by this present Synod that the said Communion-Tables in all Chancells or Chappels be decently severed with Rails to preserve them from such or worse profanations And because the Administration of holy things is to be performed with all possible decency and reverence therefore we judge it fit and convenient according to the word of the Service-Book established by Act of Parliament Draw near c. that all Communicants with all humble reverence shall draw near and approach to the holy Table there to receive the Divine Mysteries which have heretofore in some places been unfitly carried up and down by the Minister unless it shall be otherwise appointed in respect of the incapacity of the place or other inconvenience by the Bishop himself in his jurisdiction and other