of Christ is not only signified and offered, but also truly exhibited and communicated. 95. The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Lord's supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner; and the mean whereby the body of Christ is thus received and eaten, is faith. 96. The wicked, and such as want a lively faith, although they do carnally and visibly, as St. Augustine speaketh, press with their teeth the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, yet in no wise are they made partakers of Christ, but rather to their condemnation do eat and drink the sign or sacrament of so great a thing. 97. Both the parts of the Lord's sacrament, according to Christ's institution, and the practice of the ancient church, ought to be ministered unto all God's people; and it is plain sacrilege to rob them of the mystical cup, for whom Christ hath shed his most precious blood. 98. The sacrament of the Lord's supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. 99. The sacrifice of the mass, wherein the priest is said to offer up Christ for obtaining the remission of pain or guilt for the quick and the dead, is neither agreeable to Christ's ordinance nor grounded upon doctrine apostolic: but contrariwise most ungodly, and most injurious to that all-sufficient sacrifice of our Saviour Christ, offered once for ever upon the cross, which is the only propitiation and satisfaction for all our sins. 100. Private mass, that is, the receiving the eucharist by the priest alone, without a competent number of communicants, is contrary to the institution of Christ. OF THE STATE OF THE SOULS OF MEN, AFTER THEY BE DEPARTED OUT OF THIS LIFE, TOGETHER WITH THE GENERAL RESURRECTION AND THE LAST JUDGMENT. 101. After this life is ended, the souls of God's children are presently received into heaven, there to enjoy unspeakable comforts; the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, there to endure endless torments. 102. The doctrine of the church of Rome concerning limbus patrum, limbus puerorum, purgatory, prayer for the dead, pardons, adoration of images and relics, and also invocation of saints, is vainly invented, without all warrant of Holy Scripture, yea, and is contrary to the same. 103. At the end of this world the Lord Jesus shall come in the clouds with the glory of his Father; at which time, by the almighty power of God, the living shall be changed, and the dead shall be raised, and all shall appear both in body and soul before his judgmentseat, to receive according to that which they have done in their bodies, whether good or evil. 104. When the last judgment is finished, Christ shall deliver up the kingdom to his Father, and God shall be all in all. THE DECREE OF THE SYNOD. If any minister, of what degree or quality soever he be, shall publicly teach any doctrine contrary to these articles agreed upon; if after due admonition he do not conform himself, and cease to disturb the peace of the church, let him be silenced, and deprived of all spiritual promotions he doth enjoy. ARTICLE I. Of Faith in the Holy 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. 1 Isa. xlvi. 9; 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. 2 Jer. x. 10; 1 Thess, i. 9. 3 Psalm xc. 2; Rom, xvi. 26. 4 Deut. iv. 15, 16; John iv. 24, with Luke xxiv. 39. 5 Acts xiv. 15; James i. 17. 6 Jer. xxxii. 17, 27; Mark x. 27. 7 Psalm cxlvii. 5; Rom. xi. 33. 8 Psalm cxix. 68, with Matt. xix. 17. 9 Neh. ix. 6; Col. i. 16, 17. 10 Matt. iii. 16, 17; xxviii. 19; 1 John iv. 7; 2 Cor. xiii. 14. Articles revised. ARTICLE 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 very2 1 and eternal God, of one substance with the Father,5 took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance ;6 so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and the manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very man," who for our sakes truly suffered most grievous torments in his soul from God, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us,10 and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men." 9 Articles of the Church of England. ARTICLE 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, 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 actual sins of men. 3 John 21 John v. 20; Rom. ix. 5. 4 John x. 30; Heb. i. 3. 5 John i. 6 Isa. vii. 14, with Matt, i. 23; Rom. Mark xiv. 33, 34. 81 Pet. ii. 24; xvi. 63; Rom. iii, 25; 2 Cor. v. 12. Heb, ix. 26. 1 Prov. viii. 22-31; John i. 12, 14. xvii. 5; Heb. i. 8, with Psalm xlv, 6. 14; Isa. vii. 14; Luke i. 35; Gal iv. 4. i. 3, 4; Heb. xiii. 8. 7 Isa, liii. 10, 11; Phil, ii. 1; 1 Cor. xv. 3, 4, 9 Ezek. 10 Isa. liii, 10; Eph. v. 2.111 John i. 7; |