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ARTICLES OF

XXIII. of Ministering in the Congregation.

is not lawful for any man to IT 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 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.

SAC

XXV. Of the Sacraments. ACRAMENTS 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

RELIGION.

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.

in the visible

A Church the evil be ever min­

gled 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 the 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 enquiry 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. BAR APTISM 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 the 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.