decree any thing against the fame, | XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congresario be les the fame ought it not to gation in fuch a Tongue as the Peonfo, any thing to be believed ple underftandeth. for neeeffity of falvation.

I

T is a thing plainly repugnant Custom of the Primitive Church, to the Word of God, and the to have Publick Prayer in the

XXI. Of the Authority of General

Cour. Is.

General Councils may nohout

gathered together without the Commandment and Will of Princes. And when they be gathered together (forafmuch as they be an affembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may err, and fometimes have erred, even in things pertaining

of Chriftian mens profeffion : but rather they be certain fure witneffes, and effectual figns of grace, and Gods good will tounto God. Wherefore things or-wards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.

dained by them as neceffary to falvation, have neither ftrength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they be taken out of holy Scripture.

There are two Sacraments or-
dained of Chrift our Lord in the
Golpel, that is to fay, Baptifm
and the Supper of the Lord."

Those five commonly called -
Sacraments, that is to fay, Con-
firmation, Penance, Orders, Ma-
trimony, and Extreme Unction,
are not to be counted for Sacra-
ments of the Gospel, being fuch
as have grown, partly of the cor-
rupt following of the Apostles,
partly are states of life allowed
by the Scriptures: but yet have
not like nature of Sacraments
with Baptifm and the Lords Sup-
per,
they have
vifible Sign or Ceremony ordain
ed of God.

The Sacraments were not or-
dained of Chrift to be gazed up-
on, or to be carried about, but
that we fhould duly use them. And
in fuch only as worthily receive.
the fame, they have a wholfome
effect or operation: but they that
receive them unworthily, pur-
chafe to themfelves damnation,
as St. Paul faith.

Bb

XXVI. Of

XXII. Of Purgatory.

HE Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of Images, as of Reliques, and alfo Invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

XXIII. Of Ministering in the Congregation.

TT is not lawful for any man take upon him the Office of blick Preaching, or Miniftering The Sacraments in the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and fent to execute the fame. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and fent, which be chofen and called to this Work by men who have publick Authotity given unto them in the Congregation, to call and fend Minifters into the Lords Vineyard.

3

Church, or to Minifter the Sacra

ments in a Tongue not under-
ftanded of the People.

XXV. Of the Sacraments.
Acraments ordained of Chrift

or

XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the
Minifters, which binders not the
Effect of the Sacraments.
the vifible

A Church the evil be ever
mingled with the good, and fome-
times the evil have chief authority
in the miniftration of the Word
and Sacraments: yet forafmuch
as they do not the fame in their
own name, but in Chrifts, and
do minister by his Commiffion
and Authority, we may use their
Miniftry, both in hearing the
Word of God, and in the receiv-rightly,
ing of the Sacraments. Neither
is the effect of Chrifts ordinance
taken away by their wickedness,
nor the grace Gods gifts
minifhed from fuch, as by faith,
and rightly do receive the Sacra-
ments miniftered unto them,
which be effectual, because of
Chrifts Inftitution and Promife,
although they be miniftered by

evil men.

- Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the Difcipline of the Church, that enquiry be made of evil Minifters, and that they be accufed by thofe that have knowledge of their offences: and finally being found guilty, by juft judgment be depofed.

XXVII. Of Baptifm.

Baptifm is not only a fign of

Proteffion, and mark of Difference, whereby Christian men are difcerned from others that be not Chriftened but it is alfo a fign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whereby, as by an inftrument, they that receive

Baptifin rightly are grafted into the Church: the promises of the forgiveness of fin, and of our adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghoft, are vifibly figned and fealed: faith is confirmed, and grace increafed by

Jet

virtue of Prayer unto God. The
Baptifm of young children is in
any wife to be retained in the
as agreeable with
the inftitution of Chrift.
XXVIII. Of the Lords Supper.
H
HE Supper of the Lord is
Chriftians ought to have
not only a fign of the Love
among themfelves one to ano-
ther: but rather it is a Sacrament
of our redemption by Chrifts

that

death: Infomuch that to fuch as

worthily, and with faith receive the fame, the Bread which Body of Chrift; and likewife the we break, is a partaking of the Cup of Bleffing is a partaking of the Blood of Chrift.

change of the Subftance of Bread Tranfubftantiation (or the and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, over

throweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occafion to many Superftitions.

The Body of Chrift is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an heavenly and fpiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Chrift is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith.

The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Christs Ordinance referved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. XXIX. Of the wicked, which eat not the Body of Chrift in the ufe of the Lords Supper.

HE and fuch as be

Τ

oid of a lively faith, Although they do carnally and vifibly prefs with their Teeth (as St. Auguftine faith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Chrift: yet in no wife are they partakers of

of Chrift; but rather to their Con-
demnation do eat and drink the
Sign or Sacrament of fo great a
thing.

and received into the Church by
a judge that hath authority there-

unto.

XXX. Of both kinds.

T

HE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Laypeople for both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Chrifts Ordinance and Commandment, ought to be Ministered to all Chriftian men alike.

of

XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the
Church.

TH

Hat perfon which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the Unity of the Church, and Excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as an Heathen and Publican, until he be openly reconciled by Penance,

T is not neceffary 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 diverfity of Countries, Times, and Mens Manners, fo that nothing be ordained against Gods Word. Whofoever 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 fear to do the like) as he that rebuked openly (that other may offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth and woundeth the Confciences of the Authority of the Magiftrate,

T made, is that perfect Re

XXXI. Of the one Oblation
Christ finished upon the Cross.
HE Offering of Chrift once
perfect Re-
demption, Propitiation, and Sa-
tisfaction for all the fins of the
whole world, both Original and
Actual, and there is none o-
ther Satisfaction for fin, but that
alone. Wherefore the Sacrifice
of Maffes, in the which it was
commonly faid, that the Prieft
did offer Chrift for the quick and
the dead, to have remiffion of
pain or guilt, were blafphemous
Fables, and dangerous Deceits.
XXXII.Of the Marriage of Priests.

B' Ifhops, Priefts, and Deacons,

are not commanded by
Gods Law, either to vow the
Eftate of fingle life, or to abitain
from Marriage: therefore it is

lawful for them, as for all other
to at their

nefs.

own difcretion, as they fhall judge
the fame to ferve better to godli-of we have joined under this Ar-
ticle, doth contain a godly and
XXXIII. Of excommunicate Per-wholfome Doctrine, and necef-
fons, how they are to be avoided. fary for these times, as doth the
former Book of Homilies, which
were set forth in the time of
Edward the Sixth; and therefore
we judge them to be read in
Churches by the Minifters, dili-
gently and diftinctly, that they
may be underftanded of the Feo-
ple.

I

Bb 2

¶ Of

the weak Brethren.

Church hath Authority to ordain, Every Particular or National change, and abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the Church, ordained only by mans Authority, fo that all things be done to edifying.

XXXV. Of Homilies.
HE Book of

lies, the feveral titles where

XXXVIII. Of Christian mens
Goods, which are not common.

T

HE Riches and Goods of
Christians are not common,

Kites, we decree all fuch to be as touching the Right, Title, and

Pof

A

Chriftian men by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and James his Apoftle: So we judge that Chriftian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may fware when the Magiftrate requireth, in a Cause of Faith and Charity, fo it be done according to the Prophets, teaching, in Juftice, Judgment, and Truth.

Poffeffion of the fame, as certain
Anabaptifts do falfly boaft. Not-
withstanding, every man ought of
fuch things as he poffeffeth, li-
berally to give Alms to the Poor,
according to his Ability.
XXXIX. Of a Chriftian mans
Oath.

S we confess that vain and
rash Swearing is forbidden

THE RATIFICATION.

HIS Book of Articles before rehearsed, is again approved, and al

confent of our Sovereign Lady ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, of England, France, and Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith, &c. Which Articles were deliberately read, and confirmed again by the Subfcription of the Hands of the Archbifbops and Bishops of the upper boufe, and by the Subfcription of the whole Clergy of the nether house in their Convocation, in the Year of our Lord, 1571.

THE TABLE.

1.

OF Faith in the holy Trinity.

2. Of the Son
3. Of his going down into Hell.
4. Of his Refurrection.
5. Of the Holy Ghost.

6. Of the Sufficiency of the Scripture.
7. Of the Old Teftament.
8. Of the three Creeds.
9. Of Original Sin.
10. Of Free-Will.
11. Of Juftification.
12. Of Good Works.
13. Of Works before fuftification.
14. Of Works of Supererogation.
15. Of Chrift alone without Sin.
16. Of Sin after Baptifm.
17. Of Predeftination and election.
18. Of obtaining Salvationby Chrift.
19. Of the Church.

20. Of the Authority of the Church.
21. Of the Authority of General
Councils.