An exposition on the Book of common prayer; with notes. [With] A companion ...

XVII. Of Predeflination and Eléction.***

Redeftination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were

constantly by from curfe- and damnation thofe

whom he hath chofen in Chrift out of mankind, and to bring them by Chrift to everlasting falvation, as veffels made to honour. Wherefore they which be endued with to excellent a benefit of God, be called according to Gods parpofe by his Spirit working in due featon: they through grace obey the calling: they be juftified freely: they be mad tons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only begotten Son Jefus Christ: They wak religieufly in good works, and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlafting felicity.

As the godly conüderation of Predeflination, and our Election in Chrift is full of weet, plafant, and unfpeakable confort to godly perfons, and fuch as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well becaufe it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal falvation, to be enjoyed through Chrift, as because it doth fervantly kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal per fons, lacking the pit of Chrift, to have continually before their eyes the fentence of Gods Predeftination, is a meft dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil goth thruft them either into desperation, or into wretchlefness of meft unclean living, no lefs perilous than defperation.

Furthermore, we must receive Gods Promifes in fuch wife as they be generally fet forth to us in holy Scrip ture: And in our doings, that will of God is to be followed, which we have exprefly declared unto us in the word of God.

XVIII. Of obtaining eternal Saluation only by the Name of Chrift.

HEY alfo are to be had accurfed, that prefume to fay, that every man thall be faved by the Law or Sect which he profeffeth, fo that he te diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the Light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth it out unto us only the Name of Jefus Christ, whereby men muit be faved. XIX. Of the Church.

HI Evifible Church of Chrift is a Congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure. Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly minutered according to Christs Ordinance, in all those things that c neceffity are requifite to the fame.

As the Church of Hierufalem, Alexandria, and Articch, have erred; fo alfo the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonie, but alfo in matters of Faith.

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.

HE Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies. and Authority in controverfies of Faith: And to ordain any that is may it fo expound one place of Scriptare that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a Withefs and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the fame, fo berides. the fame ought it no: to enforce any thing to be believed for neceffity of falvation..

XXI. Of the Authority of general Councils.

ENERAL Councils may not be 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 fome times have erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as neceflary to falvation, have neither length nor Authority, unlefs it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.

XXII. Of Purgatory,

HE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worthipping and Adoration, as well of images,. as of reliques, and alfo invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no war ranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

XXIII. Of Miniftering in the congregation.

Tis not lawful for any Man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments

he be called, and fent execure And thofe we ought to judge

lawfully called and fent, which be chofen and called to this Work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and send Ministers into the Lords Vineyard.

XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in fuch a tongue as the people underflandet.

Tis a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God, and the cultom of the Primitive Church, to have Pub lic Prayer in the Church, or to Minifter the Sacraments in a Tongue not undersanded of the people. XXV. Of the Sacraments. ordained of Christ be not badges or

S they be certain fare witneffes, and effectual signs of grace, and Gods good will towards us, by the which

but rather

he doth work invifibly in us, and doth not only quicken but alfo ftrengthen and confirm our faith in him.

There are two Sacraments brdained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to fay, Baptifm and the Supe per of the Lord..

Thofe five commonly called Sacraments, that is to fay, Confirmation. Perance, Orders, Matrimony and extreme Unction, are not be counted for Sacraments of the Gofpel, being fuch as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the Apoftles, partly are fta:es of life allowed by the Scriptures: but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptifm and the Lords Supper, for that they have not any vifible Sign or Ceremony

ordained of God.

The Sacraments were not ordained of Chrift to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly ufe then. And in fuch only as worthily receive the fame, they have a wholefome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul faith.

XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Minifters, which binders not the effect of the Sacraments. LTHOUGH in the vifible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and fometimes the evil have

A authority in miniftration of and as

in their own name, but in Chrifts, and do minister by his Commiffion and Authority, we may ufe their Mini fry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in the receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Chrifts ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of Gods gifts diminished from fuch, as by faith, and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them, which be effectual, because of Chrifts inftitu. tion and promife, although they be miniltered by evil men.

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

XXVII. Of Baptifm.

APTISM is not only a fign of Profeffion, and mark of Difference, whereby Christian men are difcerned from others that be not christened: but it is alfo a fign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whereby, as by an inftrument, they that receive Baptifm rightly are grafted into the Church: the promifes of the forgiveness of fin, and of our adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Gholt, are vifiby figned and fealed: faith is confirmed, and grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptifm of young children is in any wife to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.

XXVIII. Of the Lords Supper.

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HE Supper of the Lord is not only a fign of the Love that Chriftians ought to have among themselves one to another: but rather it is a Sacrament of our redemption by Chrifts death: Infomuch that to fuch as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the fame, the Bread which we break, is a partaking of the body of Chrift; and likewife the Cup of Bleffing is a partaking of the Blood of Chrift.

Tranfubftantiation (or the change of the fubflance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but it is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth 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 spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Bcdy of Chrift is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper was not by Chrifts ordinance referved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. XXIX. Of the wicked, which cat not the Body of Chrift in the ufe of the Lords Supper. HE wicked and fuch as be void of a lively faith, although they do carnaly and vifibly prefs with their are partakers of Chrift; but rather to their condemnation do cat and drink the Sign or Sacrament of fo great a thing. XXX Of both Kinds. HE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay-people, for both the parts of the Lords Sacrament, by Christs ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Chriftian men alike. XXXI. Of the one oblation of Chrift finished upon the Crofs.

THE

HE Offering of Chrift once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and fatisfaction for all the fins of the whole world both original and actual; and there is none other fatisfaction for fin, but that alone. Wherefore the facrifice of Maffes, in the which it was commonly faid, that the Prieft did offer Chrift for the quick and the dead, to bave semiffion of pain or guilt, were blafphemous fables, and dangerous deceits. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Prufts.

BISHOPS, Pricts, and Gods Law, either to estate of fingle

or to abstain from marriage: therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they fhall judge the fame to ferve better to godliness. XXXIII. Of excommunicate perfons, how they are to be avoided.

by denenciation of the Church is cut off from the of the Church.

and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as an Heathen and Pub. lican, until he be openly reconciled by penance, and received into the Church by a Judge that hath authority thereunto.

XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church.

Tis not neceffary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they to manner!,

fo that nothing be ordained against Gods Word. Whofoever through his private judgment, willingly and purpofely doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the word of God. and he ordained and approved by common Authority, ought to be rebuked openly (that other may fear to do the like) as he that offendeth against the common crder of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magiftrate, and woundeth the confciences of the weak Brethren.

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

XXXV. Of Homilies.

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HE fecond Book of Homilies, the feveral titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholefome Doctrine, and neceffary for thefe times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were fet forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Minifters, diligently and diftin&ly, that they may be underftanded of the people.

Of the Names of the Homilies.

the right ufe of the Church. Against Peril of Idolatry. Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches. Of good Works: Firft of Fufting. Again't Gluttony and Drunkenness. Again Excess of Apparrel. Of Prayer. Of the Place and Time of Prayer. That Common Pyers and Sacraments ought to be Miniftered in a known tongue. Of the Reverent Estimation of Gods Word. Of Alms-doing. Of the Nativity of Chrift. Of the Paion of Chrift. Of the Refurrection of Chrift. Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Corift. Of the gifts of the Halv-Ghoft. For the Regation-days. Of the State of Matrimony. Of Repentance. Again Idleness." Against Rebellion.

XXXVI. Of confecration of Bishops and Minifters.

HE Beck of Confecration of Archbishops and Bishops andof ordering Priests and Deacons, lately fet forth in the time of Edward the fixth, and confirmed at the fame time by Authority of Parliament, doth con tain all things neceffary to fuch Confecration and Ordering: neither hath it any thing that of itself is fuperfti tious and ungodly. And therefore whofoever are confecrated or ordered, according to the Rites of that Book, fince the fecond year of the forenamed King Edward, unto this time, or hereafter fhall be confecrated or ordered according to the fame Rites, we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully confecrated and ordered. XXXVII. Of the Civil Magiftrates.

HE Queens Majefty hath the chief power in this realin of England, and other her Dominions, unto whom the chief Government of all eftates of this realm, whether they be Ecclefiaftical or Civil, in all caufes doth appertain, and is not nor ought to be fubject to any foreign jurifdiction.

ΤΗ

Where we attribute to the Queens Majefly the chief Government, by which Titles we understand the minds of fome flanderous folks to be offended: we give not to our Princes the Ministering either of Gods Word, or of the Sacraments, the which thing the injunctions alfo lately fet forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly teftify but that only prerogative which we fee to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God bimfelf; that is, that they fhould rule all eftates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whe. ther they be Ecclefiaftical or temporal, and restrain with the civil fword the ftubborn and evil doers.

The Bishop of Rome hath no Jurifdiction in this Realm of England.

The laws of this Realm may panish Chriftian men with death for heinous and grievous offences.

>ps Fide da

It is lawful for Chriftian men at the Commandment of the Magiftrate, to wear weapons, and ferve in the ware XXXVIII Of Christian mens Goods which are not common. HE Riches and Goods of Chriftians are not common, as touching the right, title, and poffeffion of the do every man of fuch things as

feffeth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

XXXIX. Of a Chriftian mans Oath.

S we confess that vain and rath Swearing is forbidden Chriftian men by our Lord Jefus Chrift, and James his Apofle fo we judge that Chriftian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may fware when the Magistrate requireth, in a Caufe of Faith and Charity, fo it be done according to the Prophets, teaching, in Juftice, Judgement, and Truth.

THE RATIFICATIỠ N.

THis Book of Articles before rehearsed, is again approved, and allowed to be holden and executed within the Realm, by the affent and 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 fubfcription of the Hands of the Archbishops and Bishops of the upperhoufe, and by the fubfcription of the whole Clergy of the nether house in their convocation, in the Year of our Lord, 1571.