ordained againft God's Word. Whofoever 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 Magiftrate, and woundeth the confciences 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, fo that all things be done to edifying. Tradition and Ceremonies.] If a neceffity were laid upon the Church of God, to obferve the fame Tradition and Ceremonies at all times and Places, then the ceremonies, &c. of the Old Law had remained, and not been abolished; but we find the Apoftles themselves gave precedents of altering them as place or conveniency did fuit. Acts vi. 14, 46. Gal. xi. 3. Ads xiii. 14, 17. Rights and Ceremonies are matters indif"ferent in themfelves; but when they are eftablished by autho rity of the Church, they cught to be observed by all, upon "the account of the reverence due to that authority, which is "derived from God; who hath commanded us to obey them, who "have the rule over us, &c." Heb. xiii, 17. ("He who acts "otherwife, is a Schifmatick.") Archdeacon Welchman. And fuch ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear. For though great is the privilege of the Church and people of God, as touching rights and ceremonies; yet the Church notwithstanding, and every member thereof in his place, is bound by law of confcience to obferve all thofe ceremonies which are lawful, and not repugnant to the word of God, Let all things be done decently and in order, and to the use of edifying. 1 Cor. xiv. 40. And follow after the things that make for peace. Rom.'" xiv. 19. 1 Pet. ii. 13. G ART. *ART. XXXV. Of the Homilies. TH HE fecond Book of Homilies, the feveral titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholfome doctrine, and neceffary for thefe times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were fet forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore) we judge them to be read in Churches by the Minifters, diligently and diftinctly, that they may be understanded of the people. ¶ Of the Names of the Homilies. F the right Ufe | 2 Againft Peril of Ido I O latry. 3 Of repairing and keep- 6 Against Excefs of Ap- 7 Of Prayer. 8 Of the Place and Time known tongue. Of the reverent eftima tion of God's Word. Holy Ghost. 17 Of Rogation Days. Of Repentance. *As touching this Article, it is not whether thefe Homilies contain found and wholesome Doctrine, but whether they may be read in the open Church. 3 Second Second Book of Homilies, &c.] In this article, the doctrine contained in the Books of the Homilies is afferted in oppofition to the Romanifts, who have condemned them as heretical; and the reading them in Churches is approved of, in oppofition to the Puritans, who have contended that nothing ought to be publickly read in Churches befides the holy fcriptures, which is an error easily to be confuted, witnefs St. Paul's Epiftles; see Rom. i. 15.-x. 8. See alfo Whitgift's Defence. If nothing but the plain fcriptures were to be read in Churches, there would be an end at once of all fermon preaching both written and extempore: except a minifter expounds as well as preaches, he would very little edify his hearers. # "I cannot but magnify the goodness of God for all good "" means to bring us unto Faith, and fo unto Salvation ; but especially for the written-labours of holy and learned men, "whose writings in all ages not only have been approved of, "but likewife used and read in the most facred affemblies. In "the primitive Church were publickly read the Epiftles of Cle"mentus Hermes, Calvin's Sermons, the Homilies of the fathers, and many other godly books. St. Paul preached the gospel " as well by his writings as his fpeaking; and he encourages "his Son Timothy to do the fame." 1 Tim. iv. 6.-16. The Doctrine contained in the Homilies is not only found, but they greatly confirm the teftimonies of the Fathers. Tho. Rogers, Archdeacon Welchman. 66 ART. XXXVI. Of the Confecration of Bishops and Minifters. TH HE Book of Confecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priefts and Deacons, lately fet forth in the time of Edward VI. and confirmed at the fame time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things neceffary to fuch Confecration and Ordering; neither hath it any thing that of itself is fuperftitious and ungodly. And therefore whosoever are confecrated G 2 or or ordered according to the rites of that book, fince the fecond year of the forenamed King Edward, unto this time, or hereafter fhall be confecrated or ordered according to the same rites, we decree all fuch to be rightly, orderly, and law. fully confecrated and ordered. Confecration of Bishopt, &c.] Is agreeable to the word of God, and practice of the primitive Church; that there fhould be Archbishops, Bishops, Prefbyters, and fuch like differences and inequalities of Ecclefiaftical Minifters was begun by, and eftablished in the Apostles days, who themselves were in dignity above the Evangelifts, and the 70 difciples (fent out to preach the Gofpel); and held the authority in and over the Churches as the 12 Patriarchs, who also established ecclefiaftical Hierarchy. So we find that James was Bishop of Jerufalem; Peter, of Antioch; John, of the Afiatic Churches; Mark, of Alexandria; Timothy, of Ephefus and all Afia; Titus, of Crete, of Philippi; Ephaphroditus, of Corinth and Achaia; Apolles, of Athens; Dionyfius, of France; and Crefcens, of Britain. Thus in those early and purer times fucceeding the Apoftles, fo approved was the administration of the Church affairs by fuch kind of men as they ordained. They ratified the decrees of ecclefiaftical fupremacies at the first, by the most famous Council of Nice, fays Bafil. And they gloried much that they had received the Apostles doctrine, by fucceffion of Bishops, in the room of the Apoftles after their decease; as their goodly monuments, worthy labours and books yet extant, do fufficiently teflify, viz. Irenæus was bishop of Lyons; Ignatius was bishop of Antioch; St. Cyprian, of Carthage; Cyrill, of Jerufalem; Athanafius, of Alexandria; Bafil, of CeJarea, of all Thracia, Afia and Pontus; St. Chryfoftome, Hilary, &c. Auguftine, of Hippo; St. Ambrofe. All most noble inftruments for the advancement of God's honor and glory in those days. See Beza's Epiftle, The manner of confecrating Bishops, &c. we find defcribed by St. Paul.-Whom they fet before the Apostles, and when they bad prayed, they laid their hands on them. See Acts xiii. 3. 1 Tim. 1 Tim. iv. 14. and 2 Tim. i. 6. See Hooker's Eccl. Pol. B. v. Field of the Church, &c. B. v. ch. 56. THE HE King's Majefty hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other the dominions, unto whom the chief goverment of all eftates of this realm, whether they be Ecclefiaftical or Civil, in all caufes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be fubject to any foreign jurif diction. Whereas we attribute to the King's Majefty the chief government, by which title we understand the minds of fome flanderous folks to be offended; We give not to our Prince the miniftring either of God's Word, or the Sacraments, the which thing the Injunctions alfo lately fet forth by Elizabeth our Queen, do moft plainly testify: but that only prerogative which we fee to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all eftates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclefiacal or temporal, and reftrain with the civil fword the stubborn and evil-doors. The Bishop of Rome hath no jurifdiction in this realm of England. The laws of the realm may punish Chriftian men with death, for heinous and grievous offences. It |