ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

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XXIV. Of speaking in the Congrega- be made of evil Ministers, and that they tion in such a Tongue as the people be accused by those that have knowledge understandeth. of their offences; and finally being found

guilty, by just judgment be deposed.

XXVII. Of Baptism.

RAPTISM 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

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 Sacra- BA ments in a tongue not understanded of the people.

XXV. Of the Sacraments. SACRAMENTS ordained of Christ be

tian 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 strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.

also

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.

A the evil be ever mingled with the ALTHOUGH in the visible Church 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 erdinance 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 enquiry

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

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 a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation( or the change of the suustance 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 arter an heaven­And the mean ly and spiritual manner whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper carried about, lifted up, or worshipped. was not by Christ's ordinance reserved,

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 THE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay- people: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by