him article 86 There be two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospell that is to say Baptisme and the Lords Supper article 87 Those fiue which by the Church of Rome are called Sacraments to wit Confirmation Penance Orders Matrimony and Extreame Vnction are not to be accounted Sacraments of the Gospell being such as haue partly growne from corrupt imitation of the Apostles partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures but yet haue not like nature of Sacraments with Baptisme and the Lords Supper for that they haue not any visible signe or ceremonie ordained of God together with a promise of sauing grace annexed thereunto article 88 The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed vpon or to be carried about but that we should duely vse them And in such onely as worthily receiue the same they haue a wholesome effect and operation but they that receiue them vnworthily therby draw iudgement vpon themselues Of Baptisme article 89 BAptisme is not only an outward signe of our profession and a note of difference whereby Christians are discerned from such as are no Christians but much more a Sacrament of our admission into the Church sealing vnto vs our new birth and consequently our Iustification Adoption and Sanctification by the communion which we haue with Iesus Christ article 90 The Baptisme of Infants is to bee retained in the Church as agreeable to the Word of God article 91 In the administration of Baptisme Exorcisme Oile Salt Spittle and superstitious hallowing of the Water are for iust causes abolished and without them the Sacrament is fully and perfectly administred to all intents and purposes agreeable to the institution of our Sauiour Christ Of the Lords Supper article 92 THe Lords Supper is not onely a signe of the mutuall loue which Christians ought to beare one towards another but much more a Sacrament of our preseruation in the Church sealing vnto vs our spirituall nourishment and continuall growth in Christ article 93 The change of the substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of the Body and Bloud of Christ commonly called Transubstantiation cannot bee proued by holy Writ but is repugnant to plaine testimonies of the Scripture ouerthroweth the nature of a Sacrament and hath giuen occasion to most grosse Idolatrie and manifold superstitions article 94 In the outward part of the holy Communion the Body and Bloud of Christ is in a most liuely manner represented being no otherwise present with the visible elements than things signified and sealed are present with the signes and seales that is to say symbolically and relatiuely But in the inward and spirituall part the same Bodie and Bloud is really and substantially presented vnto all those who haue grace to receiue the Sonne of God euen to all those that beleeue in his Name And vnto such as in this manner doe worthily and with Faith repaire vnto the Lords Table the Bodie and Bloud of Christ is not only signified and offered but also truely exhibited and communicated article 95 The Bodie of Christ is giuen taken and eaten in the Lords Supper only after an heauenly and spirituall manner and the meane whereby the Body of Christ is thus receiued eaten is Faith article 96 The wicked and such as want a liuely faith although they doe carnally and visibly as Saint Augustine speaketh presse with their teeth the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ yet in no wise are they made partakers of Christ but rather to their condemnation do eate and drinke the signe or Sacrament of so great a thing article 97 Both the parts of the Lords Sacrament according to Christs institution the practice of the ancient Church ought to bee ministred vnto all Gods people and it is plaine sacriledge to rob them of the mysticall cup for whom Christ hath shed his most precious bloud article 98 The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Christs ordinance reserued carried about lifted vp or worshipped article 99 The sacrifice of the Masse wherein the Priest is said to offer vp Christ for obtaining the remission of paine or guilt for the quick and the dead is neither agreeable to Christs ordinance nor grounded vpon doctrine Apostolike but contrariwise most vngodly most iniurious to that all-sufficient sacrifice of our Sauiour Christ offered once for euer vpon the Crosse which is the onely propitiation and satisfaction for all our sinnes article 100 Priuate Masse that is the receiuing of the Eucharist by the Priest alone without a competent number of communicants is contrary to the institution of Christ Of the state of the soules of men after they be departed out of this life together with the generall Resurrection and the last Iudgement article 101 AFter this life is ended the soules of Gods children be presently receiued into Heauen there to enioy vnspeakeable comforts the soules of the wicked are cast into Hell there to endure endlesse torments The Doctrine of the Church of Rome article 102 concerning Limbus Patrum Limbus Puerorum Purgatorie Prayer for the dead Pardons Adoration of Images and Reliques and also Inuocation of Saints is vainly inuented without all warrant of holy Scripture yea and is contrary to the same article 103 At the end of this world the Lord Iesus shall come in the clouds with the glory of his Father at which time by the almighty power of God the liuing shall be changed and the dead shall be raised and all shall appeare both in body and soule before his iudgement seate to receiue according to that which they haue done in their bodies whether good or euill article 104 When the last iudgement is finished Christ shall deliuer vp the Kingdome to his Father and God shall be all in all The Decree of the Synod IF any Minister of what degree or quality soeuer hee be shall publikely teach any doctrine contrary to these Articles agreed vpon If after due admonition he doe not conforme himselfe and cease to disturbe the peace of the Church let him be silenced and depriued of all spirituall promotions he doth enioy FINIS
ARTICLES OF RELIGION AGREED VPON BY The Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland in the Conuocation HOLDEN AT DVBLIN IN The yeare of our Lord God 1615. for the auoyding of Diuersities of Opinions And the establishing of Concent touching true RELIGION LONDON Printed by R.Y. for T. Downes and are to be sold at the great North doore of Paules 1628. C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE COR VNVM VIA VNA Articles of Religion agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops and the rest of the Clergie of Ireland in the Conuocation holden at Dublin in the yeare of our Lord God 1615. for the auoyding of Diuersities of Opinions and the establishing of Consent touching true RELIGION Of the holy Scripture and the three Creeds article 1 THe ground of our Religion and the Rule of Faith and all sauing Truth is the Word of God contained in the holy Scripture article 2 By the name of holy Scripture we vnderstand all the Canonicall Bookes of the Old and New Testament viz. Of the Old Testament The 5. Bookes of Moses Iosua Iudges Ruth The first and second of Samuel The first and second of Kings The first and second of Chronicles Esra Nehemiah Esther Iob. Psalmes Prouerbs Ecclesiastes The song of Salomon Isaiah Ieremiah his prophesie and Lamentation Ezechiel Daniel The 12. lesse Prophets Of the New Testament The Gospels according to Matthew Marke Luke Iohn The Acts of the Apostles The Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Corinthians 2. Galathians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians 2. Timothie 2. Titus Philemon Hebrewes The Epistle of S. Iames. Saint Peter 2. Saint Iohn 3. Saint Iude. The Reuelation of S. Iohn All which wee acknowledge to bee giuen by the inspiration of God and in that regard to be of most certaine credit and highest authority article 3 The other Bookes commonly called Apocryphall did not proceed from such inspiration and therefore are not of sufficient authoritie to establish any point of Doctrine but the Church doth reade them as Bookes containing many worthy things for example of life and instruction of manners Such are these following The third Book of Esdras The fourth Booke of Esdas The Booke of Tobias The booke of Iudith Additions to the book of Esther The booke of Wisedome The booke of Iesus the Sonne of Sirach called Ecclesiasticus Baruch with the Epistle of Ieremiah The song of the three Children Susanna Bell and the Dragon The Prayer of Manasses The first booke of Macchabees The second booke of Macchabees article 4 The Scriptures ought to be translated out of the originall tongues into all languages for the common vse of all men neither is any person to be discouraged from reading the Bible in such a language as he doth vnderstand but seriously exhorted to reade the same with great humilitie and reuerence as a speciall meanes to bring him to the true knowledge of God and of his own duty article 5 Although there bee some hard things in the Scripture especially such as haue proper relation to the times in which they were first vttered and prophesies of things which were afterwards to bee fulfilled yet all things necessary to be known vnto euerlasting saluation are cleerely deliuered therein and nothing of that kinde is spoken vnder dark mysteries in one place which is not in other places spoken more familiarly and plainly to the capacitie both of learned and vnlearned article 6 The holy Scriptures containe all things necessary to saluation and are able to instruct sufficiently in all points of faith that wee are bound to beleeue and all good duties that we are bound to practise article 7 All and euery the Articles contained in the Nicen Creede the Creede of Athanasius and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creede ought firmely to be receiued and beleeued for they may be proued by most certaine warrant of holy Scripture Of faith in the holy Trinity article 8 THere is but one liuing and true God euerlasting without body parts or passions of infinite power wisedome and goodnes the maker and preseruer of all things both visible and inuisible And in vnity of this Godhead there bee three persons of one and the same substance power and eternity the Father the Son and the holy Ghost article 9 The essence of the Father doth not beget the essence of the Son but the person of the Father begetteth the person of the Sonne by communicating his whole essence to the person begotten from eternity article 10 The holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is of one substance maiestie and glory with the Father and the Sonne very and eternall God Of Gods eternall decree and Predestination article 11 GOD from all eternity did by his vnchangeable counsell ordaine whatsoeuer in time should come to passe yet so as thereby no violence is offered to the wils of the reasonable creatures and neither the liberty nor the contingency of the second causes is taken away but established rather article 12 By the same eternall counsell God hath predestinated some vnto life and reprobated some vnto death of both which there is a certaine number known only to God which can neither be increased nor diminished article 13 Predestination to life is the euerlasting purpose of God wherby before the foundations of the world were layed he hath constantly decreed in his secret counfell to deliuer from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ vnto euerlasting saluation as vessels made to honour article 14 The cause mouing God to predestinate vnto life is not the foreseeing of faith or perseuerance or good works or of any thing which is in the person predestinated but onely the good pleasure of God himselfe For all things being ordained for the manifestation of his glory and his glory being to appeare both in the workes of his Mercy and of his Iustice it seemed good to his heauenly Wisedome to choose out a certain number towards whom he would extend his vndeserued mercy leauing the rest to be spectacles of his iustice article 15 Such as are predestinated vnto life be called according vnto Gods purpose his spirit working in due season and through grace they obey the calling they be iustified freely they be made sons of God by adoption they be made like the Image of his only begotten Son Iesus Christ they walke religiously in good workes and at length by Gods mercy they attaine to euerlasting felicity But such as are not predestinated to saluation shall finally be condemned for their sins article 16 The godly consideration of Predestination and our election in Christ is full of sweete pleasant and vnspeakeable comfort to godly persons and such as feele in themselues the working of the spirit of Christ mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members and drawing vp their minds to high and heauenly things as well because it doth greatly confirme and establish their
of flesh at certaine times and daies appointed they are no waies meant to be religious fasts nor intended for the maintenance of any superstition in the choice of meates but are grounded meerly vpon politicke considerations for prouision of things tending to the better preseruation of the Common-wealth article 51 We must not fast with this perswasion of mind that our fasting can bring vs to heauen or ascribe holinesse to the outward work wrought For God alloweth not our fast for the work sake which of it selfe is a thing meerly indifferent but chiefly respecteth the heart how it is affected therein It is therfore requisit that first before all things we cleanse our hearts from sin and then direct our fast to such ends as God will allow to be good that the flesh may therby be chastised the spirit may be more feruent in prayer that our fasting may be a testimonie of our humble submission to Gods Maiestie when we acknowledge our sins vnto him and are inwardly touched with sorrowfulnesse of heart bewailing the same in the affliction of our bodies article 52 All worship deuised by mans phantasie besides or contrary to the Scriptures as wandring on Pilgrimages setting vp of Candles Stations and Iubilies Pharisaicall sects and fained Religions praying vpon Beades and such like superstition hath not onely no promise of reward in Scripture but contrariwise threatnings and maledictions article 53 All manner of expressing God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost in an outward forme is vtterly vnlawfull As also all other Images deuised or made by man to the vse of Religion article 54 All religious worship ought to bee giuen to God alone from whom all goodnesse health and grace ought to be both asked and looked for as from the very author and giuer of the same and from none other article 55 The name of God is to be vsed with all reuerēce and holy respect and therefore all vaine and rash swearing is vtterly to bee condemned Yet notwithstanding vpon lawfull occasions an oath may bee giuen and taken according to the Word of God iustice iudgement and truth article 56 The first day of the weeke which is the Lords day is wholly to bee dedicated to the seruice of God and therefore we are bound therein to rest from our common and daily businesse and to bestow that leisure vpon holy exercises both publicke and priuate Of the ciuill Magistrate article 57 THe Kings Maiestie vnder God hath the Soueraigne and chiefe power within his Realmes and Dominions ouer all manner persons of what estate eyther Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill soeuer they bee so as no other forraine power hath or ought to haue any superiority ouer them article 58 Wee doe professe that the supreame gouernement of all estates within the said Realmes and Dominions in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall doth of right appertaine to the kings highnesse Neither do we giue vnto him hereby the administration of the Word Sacraments or the power of the Keyes but that prerogatiue only which we see to haue beene alwaies giuen vnto all godly Princes in holy Scripture by God himselfe that is that hee should containe all estates and degrees committed to his charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within their duety and restraine the stubborne and euill doers with the power of the Ciuill sword article 59 The Pope neither of himselfe nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other meanes with any other hath any power or authority to depose the King or dispose any of his Kingdomes or Dominions or to authorise any other Prince to inuade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his subiects of their allegeance and obedience to his Maiestie or to giue licence or leaue to any of them to beare armes raise tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to his Royall person state or gouernment or to any of his subiects within his Maiesties Dominions article 60 That Princes which be excommunicated or depriued by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their subiects or any other whatsoeuer is impious doctrine article 61 The lawes of the Realme may punish Christian men with death for heynous and grieuous offences article 62 It is lawfull for Christian men at the commandement of the Magistrate to beare armes and to serue in iust wars Of our duty towards our Neighbours article 63 OVr duety towards our neighbours is to loue them as our selues and to doe to all men as we would they should doe to vs to honour obey our Superiors to preserue the safetie of mens persons as also their chastity goods and good names to beare no malice nor hatred in our hearts to keep our bodies in temperance sobernesse chastity to be true and iust in all our doings not to couet other mens goods but labour truely to get our owne liuing and to doe our duety in that estate of life vnto which it pleaseth God to call vs. article 64 For the preseruation of the chastity of mens persons wedlocke is commanded vnto all men that stand in need thereof Neither is there any prohibition by the Word of God but that the Ministers of the Church may enter into the state of Matrimony they being no where commanded by Gods Law either to vow the estate of single life or to abstaine from marriage Therefore it is lawfull also for them as well as for all other Christian men to marry at their owne discretion as they shall iudge the same to serue better to godlinesse article 65 The riches and goods of Christians are not common as touching the right title and possession of the same as certaine Anabaptists falsly affirme Notwithstanding euery man ought of such things as hee possesseth liberally to giue almes to the poore according to his ability article 66 Faith giuen is to be kept euen with Hereticks and Infidels article 67 The Popish doctrine of Equiuocation mentall Reseruation is most vngodly and tendeth plainly to the subuersion of all humane society Of the Church and outward Ministry of the Gospell article 68 THere is but one Catholike Church out of which there is no saluation containing the vniuersall company of all the Saints that euer were are or shall be gathered together in one body vnder one head Christ Iesus part whereof is already in Heauen triumphant part as yet militant here vpon earth And because this Church consisteth of all those and those alone which are elected by God vnto saluation regenerated by the power of his spirit the number of whom is knowne only vnto God himselfe therefore it is called the Catholike or vniuersall and the Inuisible Church article 69 But particular visible Churches consisting of those who make profession of the faith of Christ liue vnder the outward means of saluation be many in number wherein the more or lesse sincerely according to Christs institution the Word of God is taught the Sacraments