may receive the crown of righteousnesse laid up by the Lord the righteous Judge who liveth and reigneth one God with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen Whereby it is evident if there were any negligence in the Bishop in preaching or other labours in the work of the Ministry the constitution was not defective in the exhortations of him and prayers for him accordingly nay it rather laies more upon him then it doth upon the Presbyâ—ers To conclude let the Reader take a view of the thirty sixt Article of religion of the Church of England and let him judge if they had not very good cause to approve as they there do this book of ordination and to declare that all such as have been or shall be ordered accordingly to be rightly and lawfully ordered and whether it had not been much better upon the disputes concerning it to have had some moderate accommodation then a totall suppression of it The Lord give us moderate spirits and a right understanding in all things ARTICLES AGREED UPON By the ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS of both Provinces and the whole CLERGIE In the Convocation holden at LONDON in the yeer 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the establishing of Consent touching true RELIGION THE TABLE 1 OF faith in the 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 the Original sin 10 Of free-will 11 Of Iustification 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 21 Of the authority of the general councels 22 Of Purgatory 23 Of ministring in the congregation 24 Of speaking in the congregation 25 Of the Sacraments 26 Of the unworthiness of the Ministers 27 Of Baptisme 28 Of the Lords Supper 29 Of the wicked which eat not the body of Christ 30 Of both kindes 31 Of Christs one oblation 32 Of the marriage of Priests 33 Of excommunicate persons 34 Of Traditions of the Church 35 Of Homilies 36 Of consecration of Ministers 37 Of civil Magistrates 38 Of Christian mens goods 39 Of a Christian mans oath 40 Of the Ratification ARTICLES OF RELIGION I. Of Faith in the holy Trinity THere is but one living and true God everlasting without body parts or passions of infinit 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 II. 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 of one substance with the Father took mans 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 manhâ—â—d were joyned together in one person neveâ— 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 III. 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 IV. Of the Resurâ—â—ction 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 mans nature wherewith he ascended into Heaven and there sitteth untill he return to judge all men at the last day V. 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 VI. Of the sufficientcy of the holy Scriptures for salvation HOly Scripture 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 Article of the faith or be thought requisite or necessary to 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 numbers of the Canonical BOOKS GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomium Joshue Judges Ruth The 1. Book of Samuel The 2. Book of Samuel The 1. Book of Kings The 2. Book of Kings The 1. Book of Chronicles The 2. Book of Chronicles The 1. Book of Esdras The 2. Book of Esdras The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or Preacher Cantica or songs of Solo. 4. Prophets the greater 12. Prophets the less 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 The 3. Book of Esdras The 4. Book of Esdras The Book of Tobias The Book of Judeth The rest of the Book of Hester The Book of Wisdome Jesus the son of Sirach Baruch the Prophet The song of the three Children The Story of Susanna Of Bell and the Dragon The prayer of Manasses The 1. book of Maccabees The 2. book of Maccahees All the books of the New Testament as they are commonly received we do receive and account them Canonical VI. 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 mankinde by Christ who is the only Mediator between God and man being both God and man Wherefore they 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 binde Christian men nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any Common wealth yet notwithstanding no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral VIII Of the three Creeds THe three Creeds Nice Creed Athanasius Creed and that which is commonly called the Apostles Creed ought thorowly to be received and believed for they may be proved by most certain warrants of holy Scripture IX Of original birth or 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 ingendred of the off-spring of Adam whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness and is of his own nature
as their own bodies He that loveth his wife loveth himself for no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joyned unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife even as himself Likewise the same St. Paul writing to the Colossians speaketh thus Colos 3. 9. to all men that be married Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them Hear also what St. Peter the Apostle of Christ which was himself 1 Pet. 3. 7. a married man saith unto all men that are married Ye husbands dwell with your wives according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband toward the wife now hear the wives duty towards the husband even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture Saint Paul in the forenamed Epistle to the Ephesians teacheth you thus Ye women submit your selves Ephes 5. 22. unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in all things And again he saith Let the wife reverence her husband And in his Epistle to the Colossians St. Paul giveth you this short lesson Ye wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. St. Peter also doth instruct you very godly thus saying Let wives be subject to their own husbands so that if any obey not the word they may without the word be wonne by the conversation of the wives while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of platted hair and wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is a precious thing in the sight of God For after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God adorn themselves being in subjection to their own husbands even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well and not being dismayed with any fear These are your duties which if you shall observe that blessing in the 128. Psalm may be your portion BLessed are all they that fear the Lord and walk in his wayes For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine upon the walls of thine house Thy children like the olive branches round about thy table Lo thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord from out of Sion shall so blesse thee that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long Yea thou shalt see thy childrens children and peace upon Israel Dearly beloved friends we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of his congregation to joyn together this man and this woman in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate instituted of God in paradise in the time of mans innocency signifying unto us the mysticall union that is betwixt Christ and his Church which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee and is commended of St. Paul to be honorable among all men and therefore is not to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly lightly or wantonly to satisfie mens carnall lusts and appetites like brute beasts that have no understanding but reverently discreetly advisedly soberly and in the feare of God duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained One was the procreation of children to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord and praise of God Secondly it was ordained for a remedy against sinne and to avoid fornication that such persons as have not the gist of continency might marry and keepe themselves undefiled members of Christs body Thirdly for the mutuall society helpe and comfort that the one ought to have of the other both in prosperity and adversity into the which holy state these two persons present come now to be joyned Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joyned together let him now speake or else hereafter for ever hold his peace And also speaking to the persons that shall be married he may say I require and charge you as you will answer at the dreadfull day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed that if either of you do know any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joyned together in matrimony that ye confesse it For be ye well assured that so many as be coupled together otherwise then Gods word doth allow are not joyned together by God neither is their matrimony lawfull N. Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony Wilt thou love her comfort her honour and keepe her in sickness and in health forsaking all other keep thee only unto her so long as you both shall live The man answereth I will Then the Minister sayeth unto the woman N. Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony Wilt thou obey him and serve him love honour and keep him in sicknes and in health and forsaking all other keepe thee only unto him so long as you both shall live The woman answereth I will Then the Minister sayeth Who giveth this woman to be married to this man And the Minister receiving the woman of her fathers or friends hands causeth the man to take the woman by the right hand saying I. N. Take thee N. to my wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sicknes and in health to love and to cherish till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I plight thee my troth Then they loose their hands and the woman taking againe the man by the right hand sayeth I. N. Take thee N. to my wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward for better for worse for richer for poorer in sicknes and in health to love cherish and to obey till death us depart according to Gods holy ordinance and thereto I give thee my troth Then again loosing their hands
present unto thee O Lord our selves our souls and bodies to be a reasonable holy and lively sacrifice unto thee humbly beseeching thee that all we which be partakers of this Holy Communion may be fulfilled with thy grace and Heavenly benediction And although we be unworthy through our manifold sins to offer unto thee any sacrifice yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service not weighing our merits but pardoning our offences And seeing O Lord thou hast now vouchsafed by our duly receiving these holy mysteries to seed us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ and doest assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us and that we be very members incorporate in thy mystical body which is the blessed company of all faithful people and be also heirs through hope of thy everlasting Kingdome by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son We most humbly beseech thee O merciful Father so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy fellowship and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in And do thou so dispose the wayes of thy â—ervants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help And we beseech thee to direct sanctifie and govern both our hearts and bodies in the wayes of thy laws and in the works of thy Commandements that through thy most mighty protection both here and ever we may be preserved in body and soul And grant that the words which we have heard this day with our outward ears may through thy grace be so grafted inwardly in our hearts that they may bring forth in us the fruit of good living to the honour and praise of thy name And now O Lord who art the fountain of all wisdome which knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking and who hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy Sons name we beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us that have made now our Prayers and supplications unto thee and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will may effectually be obtained to the relief of our necessitie and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord by whom and with whom in the unitie of the Holy Ghost all honour and glory be unto thee O Father Almighty world without end Amen The Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and mindes in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and the blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost be amongst you and remain with you alwayes Amen THE VISITATION of the SICK An Exhortation after this Form or the like DEarly beloved know this that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death and over all things to them pertaining as youth strength health age weakness and sickness wherefore whatsoever your sickness is know you certainly that it is Gods visitation And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you whether it be to try your patience for the example of others and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable glorious and honourable to the encrease of glory and endless felicitie or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father know you certainly that if you truly repent you of your sins and bear your sickness patiently trusting in Gods mercy for his dear Son Jesus Christ his sake and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation submitting your self wholly unto his will it shall turn to your profit and help you forwards in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life If the person visited be very sick then the Minister may end his exhortation in this place or else proceed as followeth Take therefore in good worth the chastisement of the Lord For whom the Lord loveth he chastiseth yea as St. Paul saith he scourgeth every son which he receiveth If ye endure chastisement he offereth himself unto you as unto his own children What son is he that the Father chastiseth not If ye be not under Correction whereof all true children are partakers then are ye bastards and not children Therefore seeing that when our carnal Fathers do correct us we reverently obey them shall we not much rather be obedient to our spiritual Father and so live And they for a few dayes do chastise us after their own pleasure but he doth chastise us for our profit to the intent that he may make us partakers of his holiness These words good brother are Gods words and written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction that we should patiently and with thanksgiving bear our heavenly Fathers correction whensoever by any manner of adversitie it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons then to be made like unto Christ by suffering patiently adversities troubles and sicknesses For he himself went not up to joy but first he suffered pain he entred not into his glory before he was crucified so truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ that we may rise again from death and dwell with him in everlasting life Now therefore taking your sickness which is thus profitable for you patiently I exhort you in the name of God to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptisme And for asmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous Judge of whom all must be judged without respect of persons I require you to examine your self and your state both toward God and man so that accusing and condemning your self for your own faults you may finde mercy at our heavenly Fathers hand for Christs sake and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgement Therefore I shall first shortly rehearse the articles of our faith that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should or no. Here the Minister may rehearse the Articles of the faith saying thus Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty c. And so forth as it is in Baptisme And the Minister may do well to ask him whether he be in charity with all the world exhorting him to forgive from the bottome of his heart all persons that have offended him and if he have offended other to ask them forgiveness and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man that he make amends to the uttermost of his power And if he have not afore disposed of his goods that he then make