Election.

Works of Supererogation, can- | XVII. Of Predestination and not be taught without arrogancy and impiety: for by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required: whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, We are unprofitable servants.

CHE

XV. Of Christ alone without Sin. CHRIST in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things, sin only except, from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh, and in his spirit. He came to be the Lamb without spot, who, by sacrifice of himself once made, should take away the sins of the world, and sin, as Saint 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 sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in

us.

XVI. Of Sin after Baptism.

OT every deadly sin will

PREDESTINATION to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his onlybegotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.

As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the work

Ningly committed after Bap-ing of the Spirit of Christ, mor

tism is sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of 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 fall into sin, and by the grace of God we may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned, which say, they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

tifying 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 because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the seutence of God's Predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil doth thrust

XX. Of the Authority of the XXIII. Of Ministering in the

THE Church hath power to take upon him the office

stering the Sacraments in the | have not any visible sign or ceCongregation, before he be law-remony ordained of God.

fully called, and sent to exe-
cute the same. And those we
ought to judge lawfully called
and sent, which be chosen and
called to this work by men who
have publick authority given
unto them in the Congregation,
to call and send Ministers into
the Lord's vineyard.
XXIV. Of speaking in the Con-
gregation in such a tongue as
the people understandeth.

[Tis a thing plainly repugnant
to the Word of God, and

the custom of the Primitive Church, to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the people.

The Sacraments were not of dained of Christ to be gazed up on, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholesome effect or operation< but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul saith. XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacrament. ALTHOUGH in the visible

evil be ever

mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet XXV. Of the Sacraments. forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but ACRAMENTS ordained of in Christ's, and do minister by Christ be not only badges or his commission and authority, tokens of Christian men's pro-we may use their Ministry, both fession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they

in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men.

Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that enquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally being found guilty, by just judgement be deposed.

XXVII. Of Baptism.

APTISM is not only a sign

XXIX. Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use of the Lord's Supper. THE Wicked, and such as

difference, whereby Christian | dinance reserved, carried about, men are discerned from others lifted up, or worshipped. that be not christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.

XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper.
THE Supper of the Lord is

not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ.

Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.

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

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's or

be void of a lively faith, although they do carnally and (as Saint Augustine saith) the visibly press with their teeth Blood of Christ, yet in no Sacrament of the Body and wise are they partakers of Christ: but rather, to their condemnation, do eat and drink the sign or Sacrament of so great a thing.

XXX. Of both kinds. THE Cup of the Lord is not

to be denied to the Laypeople: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike.

XXXI. Of the one Oblation of
Christ finished upon the Cross.

HE Offering of Christ once

THE

made is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses, in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits.

XXXII. Of the Marriage of
Priests.

BISHOPS, Priests, and Dea

are not commanded

Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, ceremonies or rites of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying.

XXXV. Of the Homilies. THE second Book of Ho

by God's Law, either to vow the estate of single life, 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 shall judge the same to serve better to godliness. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided. milies, the several titles HAT person which by open whereof we have joined under denunciation of the Church this Article, doth contain a godis rightly cut off from the unity ly and wholesome Doctrine, and of the Church, and excommu- necessary for these times, as nicated, ought to be taken of doth the former Book of Homithe whole multitude of the faith- lies, which were set forth in the ful, as an Heathen and Pub- time of Edward the Sixth; and lican, until he be openly re- therefore we judge them to be conciled by penance, and re- read in Churches by the Miuceived into the Church by aisters, diligently and distinctly, Judge that hath authority there- that they may be understanded of the people.

ΤΗ

unto.

XXXIV. Of the Truditions of the Church,

IT is not necessary that Tradi

Of the Names of the Homilies!

1 OF the right Use of the

Church.

2 Against peril of Idolatry.
3 Of repairing and keeping clean

of Churches.

4 Of good Works: first of Fasting.

5 Against Gluttony and Drunk

enness.

6 Against Excess of Appare!, 7 Of Prayer.

tions and Ceremonies be in all places one, and utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever through his private judgement, 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 rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, 10 and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.

8 Of the Place and Time

Prayer.

9 That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be min

istered in a known tongue.

Of the reverend estimation of
God's Word.

11 Of Alms-doing.

12 Of the Nativity of Christ.