chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to As the Church of Hierusalem, Alexan bring them by Christ to everlasting dria, and Antioch, have erred; so also salvation, as vessels made to honour. the Church of Rome bath erred, not onWherefore they, which he endued with ly in their living and manner of Cereso excellent a benefit of God, he called (monies, but also in matters of Faith. according to God's purpose by his Spirit (Art. XX. Of the Authority of the Church. working in due season: they through The Church hath power to decree grace obey the calling. they be justified Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in freely they be made Sons of God by Controversies of Faith: And yet it is adoption: they be made like the image not lawful for the Church to ordain any of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ: thing that is contrary to God's Word the walk religiously in good works; written; neither may it so expound one and at length by God's mercy they at-place of Scripture, that it be repugnant tair to everlasting felicity. to another. Wherefore, although the Art. XXII. Of Purgatory. As the godly consideration of Predes-Church be a Witness and a Keeper of tination, and our Election in Christ, is Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable any thing against the same, so besides comfort to godly persons, and such as the same ought not to enforce any thing feel in themselves the working of the to be believed for necessity of salvation. Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of Art. XXI. Of the Authority of General the flesh and their earthly inembers, and Councils.* drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth The Romish doctrine concerning Purgreatly establish and confirm their faith gatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed Adoration, as well of Images, as of Rethrough Christ, as because it doth fer-liques, and also invocation of Saints, vently kindle their love towards God: is a fond thing vainly invented, and so, for curious and carnal persons, lack-grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, ing the Spirit of Christ, to have conti- but rather repugnant to the Word of God. nually before their eyes the Sentence of Art. XXIII. Of Ministering in the ConGod's predestination, is a most dangergregation. ous downfall, whereby the Devil doth It is not lawful for any man to take thrust them either into desperation, or upon him the office of public preaching, into wretchlessness of most unclean liv-or Ministering the Sacraments in the ing, no less perilous than desperation. Congregation, before he be lawfully Furthermore, we must receive God's called, and sent to execute the same. promises in such wise as they be gene- And those we ought to judge lawfully rally set forth to us in holy Scripture called and sent, which be chosen and And in our doings, that will of God is called to this Work by men who have to be followed, which we have express-public Authority given unto them in ly declared unto us in the Word of God. the Congregation, to call and send Art. XVIII. Of obtaining Eternal Sal-Ministers into the Lord's Vineyard. vation 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 unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved. Art. XIX. Of the Church. Art. XXIV. Of speaking in the Congre gation 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. Art. XXV. Of the Sacraments. The visible Church of Christ is a Con- Sacraments ordained of Christ be not gregation of faithful men, in the which only badges or tokens of Christian men's the pure Word of God is preached, and profession; but rather they be certain the Sacraments be daly ministered ac-sure witnesses, and effectual signs of cording to Christ's Ordinance, in all grace, and God's good will towards us, those things that of necessity are requi-by the which he doth work invisibly in site to the same. us, and doth not only quicken, but also The 21st of the former articles is omitted, because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining parts of it, in other articles strengthen and confirm our faith in him. bly signed and sealed: faith is confirmed, There are two Sacraments ordained and grace increased by virtue of prayer of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to unto God. The Baptism of young chilsay, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. dren is in any wise to be retained in the Those five commonly called Sacra-Church as most agreeable with the insti ments, that is to say, Confirmation, Pe-tution of Christ. nance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Art. XXVIII. Of the Lord's Supper. Unction, are not to be counted for Sa- The Supper of the Lord is not only a craments of the Gospel, being such as sign of the Love that Christians ought have grown, partly of the corrupt fol- to have among themselves one to anolowing of the Apostles, partly are states ther; but rather it is a Sacrament of our of life allowed by the Scriptures; but Redemption by Christ's death: insoyet have not like nature of sacraments much that to such as rightly, worthily, with Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and with faith receive the same, the for that they have not any visible Sign Bread which we break is a partaking of or ceremony ordained of God. the Body of Christ; and likewise the The Sacraments were not ordained of Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carri- Blood of Christ. ed about, but that we should duly use Transubstantiation (or the change of them. And in such only as worthily re- the Substance of Bread and Wine) in the ceive the same, they have a wholesome Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved effect or operation: but they that re-by Holy Writ; but it is repugnant to the ceive them unworthily, purchase to plain words of Scripture, overthroweth themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith. the nature of a Sacrament, and hath Art. XXVI. Of the unworthiness of the given occasion to many superstitions. Ministers, which hinders not the effect of 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 re ceived and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. the Sacraments. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's Ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. Art. XXIX. Of the Wicked, which eat not of the body of Christ in the Use of the Lord's Supper. 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 receiving the Sacraments. The wicked, and such as be void of a Neither is the effect of Christ's Ordi-lively faith, although they do carnally nance taken away by their wickedness, and visibly press with their teeth (as St. nor the grace of God's gifts diminished Augustine saith) the Sacrament of the from such, as by faith, and rightly, do Body and Blood of Christ; yet in no receive the Sacraments ministered unto wise are they partakers of Christ; but them, which be effectual, because of rather to their condemnation do eat and Christ's institution and promise, al-drink the Sign or Sacrament of so great though they be ministered by evil men. a thing. Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the Art. XXX. Of both Kinds. Discipline of the Church, that inqui- The Cup of the Lord is not to be dery be made of evil ministers, and nied to the Lay-People for both the that they be accused by hose that have parts of the Lord's Sacrament by knowledge of their offences: and finally Christ's Ordinance and Commandment, being found guilty, by just judgment, ought to be ministered to all Christian be deposed. men alike. Art. XXVII. Of Baptism. Art. XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Baptism is not only a sign of profes- Christ finished upon the cross. sion, and mark of difference, whereby The offering of Christ once made, is Christian men are discerned from others that perfect redemption, propitiation, that be not christened: but it is also a and satisfaction for all the sins of the sign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whole world, both original and actual; whereby, as by an in, trment, they that and there is none other satisfaction for receive Baptism rightly are grafted into sin, but that alone. Wherefore the Sa the Church: the promises of the forgive-crifice of Masses, in which it was coness of sin, and of our adoption to be the monly said, that the Priest did offer sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visi-Christ for the quick and the dead, te bave remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits. Art. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests. Bishops, priests, and deacons, are not commanded 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. Art. XXXIII. Of excommunicate Persons, how they are to be avoided.. That person 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 thereunto. Art. XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church. 2. Against peril of Idolatry. 4. Of good Works: first of Fasting. 8. Of the place and Time of Prayer. 10. Of the reverent Estimation of 11. Of Alms-doing. 12. Of the Nativity of Christ. 14. Of the Resurrection of Christ. 16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or ut[This Article is received in this terly like; for at all times they have Church, so far as it declares the books been divers, and may be changed ac-of Homilies to be an explication of cording to the diversity of countries, Christian doctrine, and instructive in times, and men's manners, so that no-piety and morals. But all references to thing be ordained against God's word. the constitution and laws of England Whosoever, through his private judg-are considered as inapplicable to the cir ment, willingly and purposely doth cumstances of this Church, which also openly break the Traditions and Cere-suspends the order for the reading of monies of the Church, which be not re-said Homilies in Churches until a repugnant to the word of God, and be or-vision of them may be conveniently dained and approved by common autho-made, for the clearing of them, as well rity, ought to be rebuked openly (that from obsolete words and phrases, as other may fear to do the like) as he that from local references.] offendeth against the common Order of the Church, and burteth the Authority of Art. XXXVI. of Consecration of Bithe Magistrate, and woundeth the conskop: and Ministers. seiences of the weak Brethren. The Book of Consecration of Bishops, Every particular or National Church and ordering of Priests and Deacons, hath Authority to ordain, change, and as set forth by the General Convention abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the of this Church in 1792, doth contain all Church, ordained only by man's autho-things necessary to such consecration rity, so that all things be done to edifying. and ordering; neither hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious and ungod Art. XXXV. Of Homilies. The second Book of Homilies, the seve-ly: and, therefore, whosoever are con ral titles whereof we have joined, under secrated or ordered according to said this Article, doth contain a godly and form, we decree all such to be rightly, wholesome Doctrine, and necessary for orderly, and lawfully consecrated and these Times, as doth the former Book ordered. of Homilies, which were set forth in the Art. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil time of Edward the Sixth; and thereMagistrates. fore we judge them to be read in Church- The power of the Civil Magistrate exes by the Ministers diligently and dis-tendeth to all men, as well Clergy as Laitinctly, that they may be understanded ty, in all things temporal; but hath no of the people. authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay Of the Names of the Homilies. 1 of the right Use of the Church. respectful obedience to the civil autho-Jalms to the poor, according to his ability. rity, regularly and legitimately consti-Art. XXXIX. Of a Christian man's Oath. tuted. As we confess that vain and rash Art. XXXVIII. Of Christian men's swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Goods, which are not common. Apostle; so we judge that Christian ReThe Riches and Goods of Christians ligion doth not prohibit, but that a man are not common, as touching the right, may swear when the Magistrate requir title, and possession of the same, as cer-eth, in a cause of Faith and Charity, so tain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Not-it be done according to the Prophets withstanding, every man ought of such teaching in Justice, Judgment, and things as he possesseth, liberally to give Truth. THE FORM AND MANNER OF MAKING, ORDAINING, AND CONSECRATING BISHOPS, PRIESTS, AND DEACONS, According to the Order of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and Laity of said Church, in General Convention, in the month of September, A. D. 1792. THE PREFACE. is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy Scripture and ancient Authors, that from the Apostles' time there have been these Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church-Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Which offices were evermore had in such reverend estimation, that no man might presume to execute any of them, except he were first called, tried, examined, and known to have such qualities as are requisite for the same; and also by public Prayer, with Imposition of Hands, were approved and admitted thereunto by lawful Authority. And therefore, to the intent that these Orders may be continued, and reverently used and esteemed in this Church, no man shall be accounted or taken to be a lawful Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, in this Church, or suffered to execute any of the said Functions, except he be called, tried, examined, and admitted thereanto, according to the Form hereafter following, or hath had Episcopal Con secration or Ordination. And none shall be admitted a Deacon, Priest, or Bishop, except he be of the age which the Canon in that case provided may require. And the Bishop, knowing, either by himself, or by sufficient testimony, any Per son to be a man of virtuous conversation, and without crime; and, after exami nation and trial, finding him sufficiently instructed in the holy Scripture, and otherwise learned as the Canons require, may, at the times appointed, or else, on urgent occasion, upon some other day, in the face of the Church, admit his Deacon, in such Manner and Form as followeth. The Form and Manner of making Deacons. When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon, or Exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of such as come to be admitted Deacons; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the People ought to esteem them in their Office. TA Priest shall present unto the Bishop, sitting in his Chair near to the holy Ta ¶ The Bishop. ble, such as desire to be ordained Dea-TAKE heed that the persons cons, each of them being decently ha- whom ye present unto us, be bited, saying these words: apt and meet for their learning REVEREND Father in God, and godly conversation, to exer I present unto you these per-cise their Ministry duly to the sons present, to be admitted Dea-honour of God, and the edifying of his Church. cons. |