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Table of the Articles
1. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
2. Of Christ the Son of God
3. Of his going down into Hell
4. Of his Resurrection
5. Of the Holy Ghost
6. Of the Sufficiency of the Scripture
7. Of the Old Testament
8. Of the Three Creeds
9. Of Original or Birth-sin
10. Of Free-Will
11. Of Justification
12. Of Good Works
13. Of Works before Justification
14. Of Works of Supererogation
15. Of Christ alone without Sin
16. Of Sin after Baptism
17. Of Predestination and Election
18. Of obtaining Salvation by Christ
19. Of the Church
20. Of the Authority of the Church
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21. Of the Authority of General Councils
22. Of Purgatory
23. Of Ministering in the Congregation
24. Of speaking in the Congregation
25. Of the Sacraments
26. Of the Unworthiness of Ministers
27. Of Baptism
28. Of the Lord's Supper
29. Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ
30. Of both kinds
31. Of Christ's one Oblation
32. Of the Marriage of Priests
33. Of Excommunicate Persons
34. Of the Traditions of the Church
35. Of the Homilies
36. Of Consecrating of Ministers
37. Of Civil Magistrates
38. Of Christian men's Goods
39. Of a Christian man's Oath.
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The Ratification (see
below)
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1. Of faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts,
or passions; of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and
preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of
this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity;
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
2. Of the Word, or Son of God, which was made very man
The Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting
of the Father, the very and eternal God, and of one substance with the
Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of 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 all actual
sins of men.
3. Of the going down of Christ into Hell
As Christ died for us, and was buried, so also is it to be believed
that He went down into Hell.
4. Of the Resurrection of Christ
Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again His body, with
flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's
nature, wherefore He ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until He
return to judge all men at the last day.
5. Of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance,
majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.
6. Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation
Holy Scriptures containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that
whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to
be required of any man, that it should be believed as an of the faith,
or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of 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
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
First Book of Samuel
Second Book of Samuel
First Book of Kings
Second Book of Kings
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First Book of Chronicles
Second Book of Chronicles
First Book of Esdras
Second Book of Esdras
Book of Esther
Book of Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher
Cantica, or Songs of Solomon
Four Prophets the Greater
Twelve Prophets the Less
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And the other books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example
of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to
establish any doctrine; such are these following:
Third Book of Esdras
Fourth Book of Esdras
Book of Tobias
Book of Judith
The rest of the Book of Esther
Book of Wisdom
Jesus the Son of Sirach
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Baruch the Prophet
The Song of the Three Children
The Story of Susanna
Of Bel and the Dragon
The Prayer of Manasses
First Book of Maccabees
Second Book of Maccabees
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All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received,
we do receive, and account them canonical.
7. Of the Old Testament
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and
New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who
is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man. Wherefore
there are not to be heard which feign that the old fathers did look
only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses,
as touching ceremonies and rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the
civil precepts 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.
8. Of the Three Creeds
The three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius' 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.
9. Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians
do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of
every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby
man is very far gone from original righteousness, 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 wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain,
yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called
in Greek phronema sarkos (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality,
some the affection, some the desire of the flesh), is not subject to
the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that
believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence
and lust hath itself the nature of sin.
10. Of Free Will
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, that he cannot
turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and good works,
to faith and calling upon God. Wherefore we have no power to do good
works pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ
preventing us that we may have a good will, and working with us when
we have that good will.
11. Of the Justification of Man
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord
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 expressed in the Homily
of Justification.
12. Of Good Works
Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of faith and follow after
justification, cannot put away our sins and endure the severity of God's
judgement, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and
do spring out necessarily of a true and lively faith, insomuch that
by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned
by the fruit.
13. Of Works before Justification
Works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith
in Jesus Christ, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or
(as the School authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea, rather
for 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.
14. Of Works of Supererogation
Voluntary works besides, over and above, God's commandments which they
call Works of Supererogation, cannot 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 do, say, We be unprofitable servants.
15. 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 S. 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.
16. Of Sin after Baptism
Not every deadly sin willingly committed after Baptism 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.
17. Of Predestination and Election
Predestinations 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 only-begotten 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 feeling 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 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 sentence of God's Predestination
is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devil doth thrust them either
into desperation or into wretchlessness of most unclean living no less
perilous than desperation.
Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise as they be
generally set forth 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.
18. Of obtaining eternal salvation only by the name of Christ
They also are 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 to us only the name of Jesus Christ,
whereby men must be saved.
19. 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 Jerusalem, 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.
20. 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
anything contrary to God's word written, neither may it so expound one
place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although
the Church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ: yet, as it ought
not to decree anything against the same, so besides the same ought it
not to enforce anything to be believed for necessity of salvation.
21. Of the authority of General Councils
General Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment
and will of princes. And when they be gathered together, forasmuch as
they be an assembly of men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit
and word of God, they may err and sometime have erred, even in things
pertaining to God. Wherefore things ordained by them as necessary to
salvation have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared
that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.
22. Of Purgatory
The Romish doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, worshipping and adoration
as well of Images as of Relics, and also Invocation of Saint, is a fond
thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture; but
rather repugnant to the word of God.
23. Of Ministering in the Congregation
It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of public preaching
or ministering the sacraments 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.
24. 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 understanded of the people.
25. Of the Sacraments
Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian
men's profession, 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 the like nature of Sacraments with
Baptism and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign
or ceremony ordained of God.
The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon or to be
carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as
worthily receive the same, have they a wholesome effect or operation:
but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation,
as Saint Paul saith.
26. Of the unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the
effect of the Sacraments
Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good,
and sometime the evil have chief authority in the ministration of the
word and sacraments; yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their
own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by His commission and authority,
we may use their ministry both in hearing the word of God and in the
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 inquiry
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.
27. Of Baptism
Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby
Christian men are discerned from other that be not christened, but 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 the 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.
28. 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 it 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 is 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 ordinance reserved,
carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.
29. Of the wicked which do not eat the body of Christ, in the use
of the Lord's Supper
The wicked and such as be void of a lively faith, although they do carnally
and visibly press with their teeth (as S. Augustine saith) the sacrament
of the body and blood of Christ, yet in no wise are they partakers of
Christ, but rather to their condemnation do eat and drink the sign or
sacrament of so great a thing.
30. Of Both Kinds
The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people; for both
parts of the Lord's sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment,
ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike.
31. Of the one oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross
The offering of Christ once made is the 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 priests did offer Christ for the quick and the dead to have
remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits.
32. Of the Marriage of Priests
Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God's laws either
to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage. Therefore
it is lawful also 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.
33. Of Excommunicated Persons, how they are to be avoided
That persons 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 and received into the Church by a
judge that hath authority thereto.
34. Of the Traditions of the Church
It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places
one or utterly alike; for at all times they have been diverse, and may
be changed according to the diversity 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 other may fear to do the like, as he that
offendeth against common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority
of the magistrate, and woundeth the conscience 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 man's
authority, so that all things be done to edifying.
35. Of Homilies
HE second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined
under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine and
necessary 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 ministers diligently and distinctly,
that they may be understanded of the people.
Of the Names of the Homilies
- Of
the right Use of the Church
- Against
peril of Idolatry
- Of
the repairing and keeping clean of Churches
- Of
good Works: first of Fasting
- Against
Gluttony and Drunkenness
- Against
Excess of Apparel
- Of
Prayer
- Of
the Place and Time of Prayer
- That
Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue
- Of
the reverend estimation of God's Word
- Of
Alms-doing
- Of
the Nativity of Christ
- Of
the Passion of Christ
- Of
the Resurrection of Christ
- Of
the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ
- Of
the Gifts of the Holy Ghost
- For
the Rogation-days
- Of
the state of Matrimony
- Of
Repentance
- Against
Idleness
- Against
Rebellion
36. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers
The Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops and ordering of
Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth
and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament, doth contain
all things necessary to such consecration and ordering; neither hath
it anything that of itself is superstitious or ungodly. And therefore
whosoever are consecrate or ordered according to the rites of that book,
since the second year of King Edward unto this time, or hereafter shall
be consecrated or ordered according to the same rites, we decree all
such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated or ordered.
37. Of the Civil Magistrates
The Queen's Majesty hath the chief power in this realm of England and
other her dominions, unto whom the chief government of all estates of
this realm, whether they be ecclesiastical or civil, in all causes doth
appertain, and is not nor ought to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.
Where we attribute to the Queen's Majesty the chief government, by which
titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended,
we give not to our princes the ministering either of God's word or of
sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth
our Queen doth most plainly testify: but that only prerogative which we
see to have been given always to all godly princes in Holy Scriptures
by God himself, that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees
committed to their charge by God, whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal,
and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers. The Bishop
of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of England.
The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous
and grievous offences.
It is lawful for Christian men at the commandment of the Magistrate
to wear weapons and serve in the wars.
38. Of Christian men's goods which are not common
The riches and goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right,
title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely
boast; notwithstanding every man ought of such things as he possesseth
liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.
39. Of a Christian man's Oath
As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men
by our Lord Jesus Christ, so we judge that Christian religion doth not
prohibit but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth in a
cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the Prophet's
teaching in justice, judgement, and truth.
The Ratification
This Book of Articles before rehearsed, is again approved, and allowed
to be holden and executed within the Realm, by the assent and consent
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 subscription of the hands
of the Archbishop and Bishops of the Upper-house, and by the subscription
of the whole Clergy of the Nether-house in their Convocation, in the
Year of our Lord 1571.
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