The Book of Common Prayer Table
of contents
Articles
Agreed upon by the Archbishops and
Bishops of both Provinces and the whole clergy in the Convocation
holden at London in the year 1562 for the avoiding of diversities
of opinions and for the establishing of consent touching true
religion.
Reprinted by command of His Majesty
King Charles 1 with his royal declaration prefixed thereunto.
His Majesty's Declaration
Being by God's
Ordinance, according to Our just Title, Defender of the Faith, and
Supreme Governor of the Church, within these Our Dominions, We hold
it most agreeable to this Our Kingly Office, and Our own religious
Zeal, to conserve and maintain the Church committed to Our Charge,
in Unity of true Religion, and in the Bond of Peace; and not to
suffer unnecessary Disputations, Altercations, or Questions to be
raised, which may nourish Faction both in the Church and
Commonwealth. We have therefore, upon mature Deliberation, and with
the Advice of so many of Our Bishops as might conveniently be
called together, thought fit to make this Declaration
following:
That the Articles of the Church of England
(which have been allowed and authorized heretofore, and which Our
Clergy generally have subscribed unto) do contain the true Doctrine
of the Church of England agreeable to God's Word: which We do
therefore ratify and confirm, requiring all Our loving Subjects to
continue in the uniform Profession thereof, and prohibiting the
least difference from the said Articles; which to that End We
command to be new printed, and this Our Declaration to be published
therewith.
That We are Supreme Governor of the Church of
England: And that if any difference arise about the external
Policy, concerning the Injunctions, Canons, and other Constitutions
whatsoever thereto belonging, the Clergy in their Convocation is to
order and settle them, having first obtained leave under Our Broad
Seal so to do: and We approving their said Ordinances and
Constitutions; providing that none be made contrary to the Laws and
Customs of the Land.
That out of Our Princely Care that the
Churchmen may do the Work which is proper unto them, the Bishops
and Clergy, from time to time in Convocation, upon their humble
Desire, shall have Licence under Our Broad Seal to deliberate of,
and to do all such Things, as, being made plain by them, and
assented unto by Us, shall concern the settled Continuance of the
Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England now established;
from which We will not endure any varying or departing in the least
Degree.
That for the present, though some differences
have been ill raised, yet We take comfort in this, that all
Clergymen within Our Realm have always most willingly subscribed to
the Articles established; which is an argument to Us, that they all
agree in the true, usual, literal meaning of the said Articles; and
that even in those curious points, in which the present differences
lie, men of all sorts take the Articles of the Church of England to
be for them; which is an argument again, that none of them intend
any desertion of the Articles established.
That therefore in these both curious and
unhappy differences, which have for so many hundred years, in
different times and places, exercised the Church of Christ, We
will, that all further curious search be laid aside, and these
disputes shut up in God's promises, as they be generally set forth
to us in the holy Scriptures, and the general meaning of the
Articles of the Church of England according to them. And that no
man hereafter shall either print, or preach, to draw the Article
aside any way, but shall submit to it in the plain and full meaning
thereof: and shall not put his own sense or comment to be the
meaning of the Article, but shall take it in the literal and
grammatical sense.
That if any publick Reader in either of Our
Universities, or any Head or Master of a College, or any other
person respectively in either of them, shall affix any new sense to
any Article, or shall publickly read, determine, or hold any
publick Disputation, or suffer any such to be held either way, in
either the Universities or Colleges respectively; or if any Divine
in the Universities shall preach or print any thing either way,
other than is already established in Convocation with Our Royal
Assent; he, or they the Offenders, shall be liable to Our
displeasure, and the Church's censure in Our Commission
Ecclesiastical, as well as any other: And We will see there shall
be due Execution upon them.
ARTICLES OF RELIGION
A 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 Scriptures.
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.
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. The Ratification.
I. Of Faith in the Holy
Trinity
There is but one
living and true God, ever- lasting, 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.
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 all 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
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;
wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until 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
Sufficiency 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 Number of the Canonical
Books
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
The First Book of Samuel
The Second Book of Samuel
The First Book of Kings
The Second Book of Kings
The First Book of Chronicles
The Second Book of Chronicles
The First Book of Esdras
The Second Book of Esdras
The Book of Esther
The Book of Job
The Psalms
The Proverbs
Ecclesiastes or Preacher
Cantica, or Songs of Solomon
Four Prophets the greater
Twelve 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 Third Book of Esdras
The Fourth Book of Esdras
The Book of Tobias
The Book of Judith
The rest of the Book of Esther
The Book of Wisdom
Jesus the Son of Sirach
Baruch the Prophet
The Song of the Three Children
The Story of Susanna
Of Bel and the Dragon
The Prayer of Manasses
The First Book of Maccabees
The Second Book of Maccabees
All the Books of the New Testament, as they are
commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical.
VII. 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
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 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.
VIII. Of the
Three Creeds
The Three Creeds,
Nicene Creed, Athanasius's 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.
IX. 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 ingendered
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 the 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 of itself
the nature of sin.
X. 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.
XI. 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.
XII. 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.
XIII. Of Works
before Justification
Works done before
the grace of Christ, and the Inspiration of his 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.
XIV. 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 you, say, We
are unprofitable servants.
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
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.
XVII. Of
Predestination and Election
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 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 feel 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 downfal,
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 to us 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.
XVIII. 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 unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ,
whereby men must be saved.
XIX. 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.
XX. 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 any
thing that is 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 any thing against the same, so
besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed
for necessity of Salvation.
XXI. 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 sometimes have erred, even in
things pertaining unto 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.
XXII. Of
Purgatory
The Romish Doctrine
concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well
of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond
thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture,
but rather repugnant to the Word of God.
XXIII. Of
Ministering in the Congregation
It is not lawful
for any man to take upon him the office of publick 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
publick authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and
send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard.
XXIV. 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 publick Prayer in the Church, or to
minister the Sacraments in a tongue not understanded of the
people.
XXV. 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 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 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 Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and
sometimes 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 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.
XXVII. Of
Baptism
Baptism is not only
a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men
are discerned from others 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 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.
XXIX. Of the
Wicked which eat not 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 Saint 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.
XXX. Of both
kinds
The Cup of the Lord
is not to be denied to the Lay-people: 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
The Offering of
Christ once 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 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.
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.
XXXIV. Of the
Traditions of the Church
It is not necessary
that Traditions 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, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and
woundeth the consciences 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.
XXXV. Of the
Homilies
The 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
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
Drunkenness.
6.Against Excess of Apparel.
7.Of Prayer.
8.Of the Place and Time of
Prayer.
9.That Common Prayers and
Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue.
10.Of the reverend estimation of
God's Word.
11.Of Alms-doing.
12.Of the Nativity of Christ.
13.Of the Passion of Christ.
14.Of the Resurrection of
Christ.
15.Of the worthy receiving of the
Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.
16.Of the Gifts of the Holy
Ghost.
17.For the Rogation-days.
18.Of the State of Matrimony.
19.Of Repentance.
20.Against Idleness.
21.Against Rebellion.
XXXVI. 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 any thing, that of itself is
superstitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are consecrated
or ordered according to the Rites of that Book, since the second
year of the forenamed 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 and ordered.
XXXVII. Of
the Civil Magistrates
The King's Majesty
hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other
his 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 King'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 the Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions
also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do 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.
XXXVIII. 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.
XXXIX. Of a
Christian man's Oath
As we confess that
vain and rash Swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus
Christ, and James his Apostle, 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.
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.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.