ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

have continually before their eyes| Wherefore, although the Church the sentence of God's Predestina- be a witness and a keeper of holy tion, is a most dangerous downfal, Writ, yet, as it ought not to de­whereby the Devil doth thrust them cree any thing against the same, either into desperation, or into so besides the same ought it not wretchlessness of most unclean liv- to enforce any thing to be believed ing, no less perilous than despera- for necessity of Salvation. tion.

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.

THE

HEY 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,

men must be saved.

XIX. Of the Church.

HE visible Church of Christ is

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.

229

XXI. Of the Authority of General

Councils.

392

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 clared that they be taken out of authority, unless it may be de­holy Scripture.

XXII. Of Purgatory.

THE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory,

ping and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also in­vocation of Saints, is a fond thing

on 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 Congrega­

HE Church hath power to

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 one of

that it be repugnant to another: I to the Word of God, and the

is

86­

88

into the Lord's vineyard.

XXIV. Of speaking in the Congre­gation in such a Tongue as the people understandeth.