Articles whereupon it was agreed by the Archbishoppes and Bishoppes of both prouinces and the whole cleargie in the Conuocation holden at London in the yere of our Lorde GOD. 1562. according to the computation of the Churche of Englande for the auoiding of the diuersities of opinions and for the stablishyng of consent touching true religion Put foorth by the Queenes aucthoritie Articles Of fayth in the holy Trinitie THERE is but one lyuyng and true God euerlastyng without body partes or passions of infinite power wysdome goodnesse the maker and preseruer of al things both visible and inuisible And in vnitie of this Godhead there be three persons of one substaunce power and eternitie the father the sonne and the holy ghost Of the worde or sonne of God which was made very man. THE Sonne which is the worde of the Father begotten from euerlastyng of the Father the very and eternall GOD of one substaunce with the father toke mans nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgin of her substaunce so that two whole and perfect natures that is to say the Godhead and manhood were ioyned together in one person neuer to be diuided whereof is one Christe very GOD and very man who truely suffered was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his father to vs and to be a sacrifice not only for originall gylt but also for all actuall sinnes of men Of the goyng downe of Christe into hell AS Christe dyed for vs and was buryed so also it is to be beleued that he went downe into hell Of the Resurrection of Christe CHriste dyd truely aryse agayne from death and toke agayne his body with flesh bones and all thinges apparteyning to the perfection of mans nature wherewith he ascended into heauen and there sitteth vntyll he returne to iudge all men at the last day Of the holy ghost THE holy ghost proceedyng from the father and the sonne is of one substaunce maiestie and glorie with the father and the sonne very and eternall God. Of the sufficiencie of the holy Scriptures for saluation HOlye Scripture conteyneth all thinges necessarie to saluation so that whatsoeuer is not read therein nor may be proued therby is not to be required of anye man that it shoulde be beleued as an article of the fayth or be thought requisite necessarie to saluation In the name of holy Scripture we do vnderstande those Canonicall bookes of the olde and newe Testament of whose aucthoritie was neuer any doubt in the Churche Of the names and number of the Canonicall Bookes Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numerie Deuteronomium Iosue Iudges Ruth The .1 boke of Samuel The .2 boke of Samuel The .1 booke of Kinges The .1 booke of Chroni The .2 booke of Chroni The .1 booke of Esdras The .2 booke of Esdras The booke of Hester The booke of Iob. The Psalmes The Prouerbes Ecclesia or preacher Cantica or songes of Sa. 4. Prophetes the greater The .2 booke of Kinges 12. Prophetes the lesse And the other bookes as Hierome sayth the Churche doth reade for example of lyfe and instruction of maners but yet doth it not applie them to establishe any doctrine Such are these folowyng The third boke of Esdras The fourth boke of Esdras The booke of Tobias The booke of Iudith The rest of the booke of Hester The booke of VVisdome Iesus the sonne of Sirach Baruch the prophet Song of the .3 children The storie of Susanna Of Bel and the Dragon The prayer of Manasses The .1 boke of Machab. The .2 booke of Macha All the bookes of the newe Testament as they are commonly receaued we do receaue and accompt them for Canonicall Of the olde Testament THE olde Testament is not contrary to the newe for both in the olde and newe Testament euerlastyng lyfe is offered to mankynde by Christe who is the onlye mediatour betweene God and man being both God and man Wherefore they are not to be hearde whiche faigne that the olde fathers dyd looke onlye for transitorie promises Although the lawe geuen from God by Moyses as touchyng ceremonies and rites do not bynde Christian men nor the ciuile preceptes therof ought of necessitie to be receaued in any common wealth yet notwithstandyng no Christian man whatsoeuer is free from the obedience of the commaundementes whiche are called morall Of the three Credes THE three Credes Nicene Crede Athanasius Crede and that whiche is commonlye called the Apostles Crede ought throughlye to be receaued and beleued for they may be proued by moste certayne warrauntes of holye scripture Of originall or birth sinne ORiginall sinne standeth not in the folowing of Adam as the Pelagians do vaynely talke but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of euery man that naturally is engendred of the ofspring of Adam whereby man is very farre gone from originall ryghteousnes and is of his owne nature enclined to euyll so that the fleshe lusteth alwayes contrary to the spirite and therefore in euery person borne into this worlde it deserueth Gods wrath and damnation And this infection of nature doth remayne yea in them that are regenerated whereby the luste of the fleshe called in Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some do expounde the wisdome some sensualitie some the affection some the desyre of the fleshe is not subiect to the lawe of god And although there is no condemnation for them that beleue and are baptized yet the Apostle doth confesse that concupiscence and luste hath of it selfe the nature of synne Of free wyll THE condition of man after the fall of Adam is suche that he can not turne and prepare hym selfe by his owne naturall strength and good workes to fayth and calling vpon God Wherefore we haue no power to do good workes pleasaunt and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christe preuentyng vs that we may haue a good wyll workyng with vs when we haue that good wyll Of the iustification of man. WE are accompted righteous before God only for the merite of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ by faith not for our owne workes or deseruynges Wherefore that we are iustified by fayth onely is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort as more largely is expressed in the Homilie of iustification Of good workes ALbeit that good workes whiche are the fruites of fayth and folowe after iustification can not put away our sinnes and endure the seueritie of Gods iudgement yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christe and do spring out necessarily of a true and liuely fayth in so muche that by them a lyuely fayth may be as euidently knowen as a tree discerned by the fruit Of workes before iustification WOrkes done before the grace of Christe and the inspiration of his spirite are not pleasaunt to God forasmuche as they spring not of fayth in Iesu Christ neither do they make men meete to receaue grace or as the schole aucthours saye deserue grace of congruitie yea rather for that they
Of the Natiuitie of Christe 13 Of the passion of Christe 14 Of the resurrection of Christe 15 Of the worthie receauing of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christe 16 Of the gyftes of the holy ghost 17 For the Rogation dayes 18 Of the state of Matrimonie 19 Of repentaunce 20 Agaynst Idlenesse 21 Agaynst rebellion Of consecration of Bishops and ministers THE booke of Consecration of Archbyshops and Byshops and orderyng of Priestes and Deacons lately set foorth in the time of Edwarde the sixt and confyrmed at the same tyme by aucthoritie of Parliament doth conteyne all thinges necessarie to suche consecration and orderyng neyther hath it any thyng that of it selfe is superstitious or vngodly And therefore whosoeuer are consecrate or ordered accordyng to the rites of that booke sence the seconde yere of the aforenamed king Edwarde vnto this time or hereafter shal be consecrated or ordered accordyng to the same rites we decree all such to be ryghtly orderly and lawfully consecrated and ordered Of the Ciuill Magistrates THe Queenes Maiestie hath the cheefe power in this Realme of Englande and other her dominions vnto whom the cheefe gouernment of all estates of this Realme whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Ciuile in all causes doth apparteine and is not nor ought to be subiect to any forraigne iurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queenes Maiestie the cheefe gouernment by whiche titles we vnderstande the mindes of some slaunderous folkes to be offended we geue not to our princes the ministring either of Gods word or of Sacraments the which thing the Iniunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queene doth most plainlie testifie But that only prerogatiue whiche we see to haue ben geuen alwayes to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God him selfe that is that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Temporall and restraine with the ciuill sworde the stubberne and euyll doers The Byshop of Rome hath no iurisdiction in this Realme of Englande The lawes of the Realme may punishe Christian men with death for heynous and greeuous offences It is lawfull for Christian men at the commaundement of the Magistrate to weare weapons and serue in the warres Of Christian mens goodes which are not common THE ryches and goodes of Christians are not common as touching the ryght title and possession of the same as certayne Anabaptistes do falsely boast Notwithstandyng euery man ought of suche thinges as he possesseth liberally to geue almes to the poore accordyng to his habilitie Of a Christian mans othe AS we confesse that vayne and rashe swearing is forbidden Christian men by our lord Iesus Christe and Iames his Apostle So we iudge that Christian religion doth not prohibite but that a man may sweare when the Magistrate requireth in a cause of faith and charitie so it be done accordyng to the prophetes teaching in iustice iudgement and trueth The Ratification THIS Booke of Articles before rehearsed is agayne approued and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realme by the ascent and consent of our Soueraigne Ladye Elizabeth by the grace of GOD of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Queene defender of the fayth c. VVhich Articles were deliberately read and confirmed agayne by the subscription of the handes of the Archbyshop and Byshoppes of the vpper house and by the subscription of the whole Cleargie in the neather house in their Conuocation in the yere of our Lorde GOD .1571 The Table 1 Of fayth in the Trinitie 2 Of Christe the sonne of GOD. 3 Of his goyng downe into hell 4 Of his Resurrection 5 Of the holy ghost 6 Of the sufficiencie of the Scripture 7 Of the olde Testament 8 Of the three Credes 9 Of originall sinne 10 Of free wyll 11 Of Iustification 12 Of good workes 13 Of workes before iustification 14 Of workes of supererogation 15 Of Christe alone without sinne 16 Of sinne after Baptisme 17 Of predestination and election 18 Of obtayning saluation by Christe 19 Of the Churche 20 Of the aucthoritie of the Churche 21 Of the aucthoritie of generall Counsels 22 Of Purgatorie 23 Of ministring in the congregation 24 Of speakyng in the congregation 25 Of the Sacramentes 26 Of the vnworthynesse of the Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lordes supper 29 Of the wicked whiche eate not the body of Christe 30 Of both kyndes 31 Of Christes one oblation 32 Of the mariage of Priestes 33 Of excommunicate persons 34 Of traditions of the Churche 35 Of Homilies 36 Of consecration of Ministers 37 Of ciuill Magistrates 38 Of christian mens goods 39 Of a christian mans othe 40 Of the ratification ¶ Imprinted at London in Powles Churchyard by Richarde Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Queenes Maiestie in Anno Domini 1571. * Cum priuilegio Regiae maiestatis LOVE KEPYTH THE LAWE OBEYETH THE KYNGE AND IS GOOD TO THE COMMEN WELTHE PRVDENCIA IVSTICIA PRO LEGE REGE ET GREGE
are not done as GOD hath wylled and commaunded them to be done we doubt not but they haue the nature of synne Of workes of supererogation VOluntarie workes besydes ouer and aboue Gods commaundementes which they call workes of supererogatiō can not be taught without arrogancie and impietie For by them men do declare that they do not onely render vnto God as muche as they are bounde to do but that they do more for his sake then of bounden duetie is required Wheras Christe sayth playnly When ye haue done al that are commaunded to you say We be vnprofitable seruauntes Of Christe alone without sinne CHriste in the trueth of our nature was made lyke vnto vs in al thinges sinne only except from which he was clearey voyde both in his fleshe in his spirite He came to be the lambe without spot who by sacrifice of hym selfe once made shoulde take away the sinnes of the worlde and sinne as S. Iohn sayeth was not in hym But al we the rest although baptized and borne agayne in Christe yet offende in many thinges and if we say we haue no sinne we deceaue our selues and the trueth is not in vs. Of sinne after Baptisme NOT euery deadly sinne willingly committed after baptisme is sinne agaynst the holy ghost and vnpardonable Wherefore the graunt of repentaunce is not to be denyed to such as fal into sinne after baptisme After we haue receaued the holy ghost we may depart from grace geuen and fall into sinne and by the grace of God we may aryse agayne and amend our lyues And therefore they are to be comdemned whiche say they can no more sinne as long as they lyue here or denie the place of forgeuenesse to suche as truely repent Of predestination and election PRedestination to lyfe is the euerlastyng purpose of God wherby before the foundations of the world were layd he hath constantly decreed by his councell secrete to vs to deliuer from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christe out of mankynde and to bryng them by Christe to euerlastyng saluation as vessels made to honour Wherfore they which be indued with so excellent a benefite of God be called accordyng to Gods purpose by his spirite workyng in due season they through grace obey the callyng they be iustified freely they be made sonnes of God by adoption they be made lyke the image of his onelye begotten sonne Iesus Christe they walke religiously in good workes and at length by gods mercy they attaine to euerlastyng felicitie As the godly consyderation of predestination and our election in Christe is full of sweete pleasaunt and vnspeakeable comfort to godly persons and such as feele in them selues the working of the spirite of Christe mortifying the workes of the fleshe their earthlye members and drawing vp their mynde to hygh and heauenly thinges aswell because it doth greatly establyshe and confirme their fayth of eternall saluation to be enioyed through Christ as because it doth feruently kindle their loue towardes God So for curious and carnal persons lacking the spirite of Christe to haue continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination is a most daungerous downefall whereby the deuyll doth thrust them either into desperation or into rechelesnesse of most vncleane liuing no lesse perilous then desperation Furthermore we must receaue Gods promises in such wyse as they be generally set foorth to vs in holy scripture and in our doynges that wyl of God is to be folowed which we haue expreslye declared vnto vs in the worde of God. Of obtaynyng eternall saluation only by the name of Christe THey also are to be had accursed that presume to say that euery man shal be saued by the lawe or sect which he professeth so that he be diligent to frame his lyfe accordyng to that lawe and the lyght of nature For holy scripture doth set out vnto vs onely the name of Iesus Christe whereby men must be saued Of the Church THe visible Church of Christe is a congregation of faythfull men in the which the pure worde of God is preached and the Sacramentes be duely ministred accordyng to Christes ordinaunce in all those thynges that of necessitie are requisite to the same As the Church of Hierusalem Alexandria and Antioche haue erred so also the Church of Rome hath erred not only in their lyuing and maner of ceremonies but also in matters of fayth Of the aucthoritie of the Church THE Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and aucthoritie in controuersies of fayth And yet it is not lawfull for the Church to ordayne any thyng that is contrarie to Gods worde written neyther may it so expounde one place of scripture that it be repugnaunt to another Wherefore although the Churche be a witnesse and a keper of holy writ yet as it ought not to decree any thing agaynst the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be beleued for necessitie of saluation Of the aucthoritie of generall Counselles GEnerall Counsels may not be gathered together without the commaundement and wyll of princes And when they be gathered together forasmuche as they be an assemblie of men wherof all be not gouerned with the spirite word of God they may erre and sometyme haue erred euen in thinges parteynyng vnto god Wherfore thinges ordayned by them as necessary to saluation haue neyther strength nor aucthoritie vnlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture Of Purgatorie THE Romishe doctrine concernyng purgatorie pardons worshipping and adoration aswell of images as of reliques and also inuocation of Saintes is a fonde thing vainly inuented and grounded vpon no warrantie of Scripture but rather repugnaunt to the worde of God. Of ministryng in the congregation IT is not lawful for any man to take vpon hym the office of publique preachyng or ministring the Sacramentes in the congregation before he be lawfully called and sent to execute the same And those we ought to iudge lawfully called and sent whiche be chosen and called to this worke by men who haue publique aucthoritie geuen vnto them in the congregation to call and sende ministers into the Lordes vineyarde Of speakyng in the congregation in such a tongue as the people vnderstandeth IT is a thing playnely repugnaunt to the worde of God the custome of the primitiue Churche to haue publique prayer in the Churche or to minister the Sacramentes in a tongue not vnderstanded of the people Of the Sacramentes SAcramentes ordayned of Christe be not onely badges or tokēs of Christian mens profession but rather they be certaine sure witnesses and effectuall signes of grace and Gods good wyll towardes vs by the which he doth worke inuisiblie in vs and doth not only quicken but also strengthen and confirme our fayth in hym There are two Sacramentes ordayned of Christe our Lorde in the Gospell that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lorde Those fyue commonly called Sacramentes that is to say