END OF THE PSALMS.

ION,

ARTICLES OF RELIGION,

AS ESTABLISHED BY THE BISHOPS, THE CLERGY, AND LAITY OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONVENTION, ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1801.

ART. 1. Of Faith in the Holy

ing to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.

Trinity. THERE is but one living and true GOD, everlasting, without body, parts, or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker ART. V. Of the HOLY GHOST. and preserver of all things both visiThe HOLY GHOST, proceeding ble and invisible. And in unity of from the FATHER and the SON, is this GODHEAD, there be three per- of one substance, majesty, and glory, sons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST.

with the FATHER and the SON, very and eternal GOD.

ART. VI. Of the Sufficiency of the ART. II. Of the WORD, or SON OF Holy Scriptures for salvation. GOD, which was made very man. Holy Scripture containeth all things The SON, which is the WORD of necessary to salvation: so that whatthe FATHER, begotten from everlast- soever is not read therein, nor may ing of the FATHER, the very and be proved thereby, is not to be reeternal GOD, of one substance with quired of any man, that it should be the FATHER, took man's nature in believed as an article of faith, or be the womb of the blessed virgin, of thought requisite or necessary to her substance: so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the GODHEAD and manhood, were joined 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.

ART. III. Of the going down of

CHRIST into Hell.

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 number of the

Canonical Books.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium, Joshue, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The First Book of Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, The Book of Hester, The Book of ART. IV. Of the Resurrection of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Preacher, Cantica or CHRIST did truly rise again from Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets death, and took again his body, with the greater, Twelve Prophets the flesh, bones, and all things appertain- less.

As CHRIST died for us, and was buried; so also is it to be believed, that he went down into hell.

CHRIST.

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And the other books, (as Hierome | do vainly talk;) but it is the fault saith) the Church doth read for ex- and corruption of the nature of every ample of life and instruction of man-man, that naturally is engendered of ners; but yet doth it not apply them the offspring of Adam, whereby man to establish any doctrine; such are is very far gone from original rightthese following:

eousness, 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 GOD's

The Third Book of Esdras, The Fourth Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book of Hester, The Book of Wisdom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, fection of nature doth remain, yea, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of them that are regenerated; whereby the three Children, The Story of the lust of the flesh, called in Greek, Susanna, Of Bel and the Dragon,

wrath and damnation. And this inin

The Prayer of Manasses, The First Pρóvnμa σapκòs, which some do exBook of Maccabees, The Second pound the Wisdom, some Sensuality, Book of Maccabees.

All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account them canonical.

ART. VII. Of the Old Testament.

some the Affection, some the Desire of the Flesh, is not subject to the law of GOD. And although there is no condemnation for thein that believe and are baptized; yet the Apos tle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin.

ART. X. Of Free-Will.

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is The condition of man after the fall offered to mankind by CHRIST, who of Adam is such, that he cannot turn is the only mediator between GOD and prepare himself, by his own and man, being both GOD and man. natural strength and good works, to Wherefore they are not to be heard, faith, and calling upon GOD: wherewhich feign, that the old fathers fore we have no power to do good did look only for transitory pro- works pleasant and acceptable to GOD, mises. Although the law given without the grace of GOD by CHRIST from GOD by Moses, as touching preventing us, that we may have a ceremonies and rites, do not bind good will, and working with us when Christian men, nor the civil precepts we have that good will. thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.

ART. VIII. Of the Creeds. The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.

ART. XI. Of the Justification of

Man.

GOD, only for the merit of our Lord We are accounted righteous before and Saviour JESUS CHRIST by faith;

and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is ex. pressed in the Homily of Justification,

ART. XII. Of Good Works. Albeit that good works, which are ART. IX. Of Original or Birth-Sin. the fruits of faith, and follow after Original sin standeth not in the justification, cannot put away our sins, following of Adam (as the Pelagians and endure the severity of GOD'S

the fruit.

ART. XIII. Of Works before Justi

judgment; yet are they pleasing and ART. XVI. Of Sin after Baptism. acceptable to GOD in CHRIST, and Not every deadly sin, willingly do spring out necessarily of a true committed after baptism, is sin and lively faith; insomuch that by against the HOLY GHOST, and unthem a lively faith may be as evi- pardonable. Wherefore the grant of dently known, as a tree discerned by repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after baptism. After we have received the HOLY GHOST, we may depart from grace given, and Works done before the grace of fall into sin, and by the grace of GoD CHRIST, and the inspiration of his (we may) arise again, and amend our And therefore they are to be SPIRIT, are not pleasant to GOD, lives. forasmuch as they spring not of faith condemned, which say, they can no in JESUS CHRIST, neither do they more sin as long as they live here, make men meet to receive grace, or or deny the place of forgiveness to (as the School-authors say) deserve such as truly repent.

fication.

grace of congruity: yea rather, for ART. XVII. Of Predestination and that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be

done, we doubt not but they have the

nature of sin.

ART. XIV. Of Works of Superero

gation.

Election.

Predestination to life is the ever

lasting purpose of GOD, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid, he hath constantly decreed, by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver Voluntary works, besides over and from curse and damnation, those above God's commandments, which whom he hath chosen in CHRIST they call Works of Supererogation, out of mankind, and to bring them cannot be taught without arrogancy by CHRIST to everlasting salvation, and impiety. For by them men do as vessels made to honor. declare. That they do not only render fore they which be endued with unto GOD as much as they are bound so excellent a benefit of GOD, be to do, but that they do more for his called according to God's purpose sake than of bounden duty is required: by his SPIRIT working in due sea whereas CHRIST saith plainly, When son: they through grace obey the ye have done all that are command-calling: they be justified freely: they ed to you, say, We are unprofitable be made sons of GOD by adoption:

servants.

ART. XV. Of CHRIST alone with

out sin.

Where

they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son JESUS CHRIST: they walk religiously in good works; and at length by GOD's mercy they attain to everlasting felicity.

CHRIST in the truth of our nature, was made like unto us in all things, As the godly consideration of sin only except, from which he was predestination, and our election in clearly void, both in his flesh, and in CHRIST, is full of sweet, pleasant, his spirit. He came to be a Lamb and unspeakable comfort to godly without spot, who by sacrifice of persons, and such as feel in themhimself once made, should take away selves the working of the SPIRIT of the sins of the world; and sin (as St. John saith) was not in him. But all we the rest (although baptized and born again in CHRIST) yet offend in many things; and if we say we have no sín, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

CHRIST, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through CHRIST, as be.

cause it doth fervently kindle their God's word written; neither may it love toward GOD: so, for curious so expound one place of Scripture. and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit that it be repugnant to another of CHRIST, to have continually before Wherefore, although the Church be their eyes the sentence of GOD's a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, predestination, is a most dangerous yet as it ought not to decree any thing downfall, whereby the devil doth against the same, so besides the same thrust them either into desperation, ought it not to enforce any thing to or into wretchlessness of most un- be believed for necessity of salvation. clean living, no less perilous than ART. XXI. Of the Authority of desperation. General Councils.* ART. XXII. Of Purgatory. The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, worshipping, and adoration, as well of images, as of reliques, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the word of GOD.

Furthermore, we must receive GOD's promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doings, that will of GOD is to be followed, which we have expressly declared

unto us in the word of GOD.

ART. XVIII. Of obtaining Eternal
Salvation only by the Name of
CHRIST.

They are also to be had accursed, that presume to say, that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of JESUS CHRIST, whereby men must be saved.

ART. XIX. Of the Church. The visible Church of CHRIST is a congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure word of GOD is preached, and the sacraments be duly ministered according to CHRIST'S ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

As the Church of Hierusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred; so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of ceremonies, but also in

matters of faith.

ART. XX. Of the Authority of the
Church.

The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controversies of faith: and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to

ART. XXIII. Of Ministering in the
Congregation.

It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the sacra ments in the congregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and sent, which be chosen and called to this work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the LORD'S vineyard.

ART. XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a tongue as the People understandeth.

It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of GOD, and the custom of the primitive Church, to have public prayer in the Church, or to minister the sacraments in a tongue not under standed of the people.

ART. XXV. Of the Sacraments.

Sacraments ordained of CHRIST be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession; but rather they be

The Twenty-first of the former Articles is nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining omitted, because it is partly of a local and civil parts of it, in other articles.