ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.

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 HE Church hath power to decree greatly establish and confirm their Rites or Ceremonies, and autho­faith of eternal Salvation to be en- rity in Controversies of Faith: And joyed through Christ, as because it yet it is not lawful for the Church doth fervently kindle their love to- to ordain any thing that is contrary wards God: So, for curious and car- to God's Word written, neither may nal persons, lacking the Spirit of it so expound one place of Scrip­Christ, to have continually before ture, that it be repugnant to another. their eyes the sentence of God's Wherefore, although the Church be Predestination, is a most dangerous a witness and a keeper of holy Writ, downfal, whereby the Devil doth yet, as it ought not to decree any thrust them either into desperation, thing against the same, so besides or into wretchlessness of most un- the same ought it not to enforce any clean living, no less perilous than thing to be believed for necessity of desperation. Salvation.

Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be nerally set forth to us in holy Scrip­

ture; and, in our doings, that Will GENERAL Councils may not be

of God is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of God.

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.

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.

XXI. Of the Authority of General Councils.

XXII. Of Purgatory.

THE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worship­ping and Adoration, as well of Im­

THE

XIX. Of the Church.

HE visible Church of Christ is ages as of Reliques, and also invoca­

Ta 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 XXIII. Of Ministering in the Con­necessity are requisite to the same.

tion of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no war­ranty of Scripture, but rather repug­nant to the Word of God.

gregation.

As the Church of Jerusalem, Alex­andria, and Antioch, have erred; so

T

also the Church of Rome hath erred. is not lawful for any man to

take upon him the office of pub­not only in their living and manner lick preaching, or ministering the of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Sacraments in the Congregation, be­Faith. fore he be lawfully called, and sent

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