SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & Co.; J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON. SCARBRO': S. W. THEAKSTON; AND ALL BOOKSELLERS. 1842. A LETTER TO **** ******* Esq. Dear Sir, Upon referring to No. 90, of the Tracts for the Times, I perceive that you have marked certain passages therein. From this circumstance, and also from some observations which at sundry times have fallen from you on the subject of that tract, I imagine that a few words from me in reply may be satisfactory to you. From the very peculiar manner in which you have marked those passages, I imagine that you have formed an opinion in favor of the principle on which the author's arguments are founded. I therefore have no hesitation in addressing you upon a subject which is certainly of paramount importance; and upon which, as it appears to me, the stability of the Protestant Reformed Episcopal Church of England and Ireland does, under Providence, greatly depend. But permit me, in the first place, to observe that from the very title to tract 90 many readers may be misled. Thus the Tract is entitled, "Remarks on certain passages in the Thirty Nine Articles." Now from this title most readers would suppose that all the passages which the author has quoted from the Thirty Nine Articles have been quoted fairly; and that the premises, upon which the author's argument is founded, are sound. Whereas the very reverse of this is true. Many of the Articles have been very unfairly quoted; or rather I may say that certain passages in the Thirty Nine Articles have been greatly perverted. In order to prove my assertion, I will quote in parallel columns the Articles as they stand in our book of Common Prayer, and the passages from those Articles as they stand in No. 90. B. Articles of Religion agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both Provinces, and the whole Clergy, in the Convocation holden at London in the year 1562, for the avoiding of Diversities of opinions, and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion. ARTICLE VI. Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to Salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church." Of the Names and Number of the Canonical Books. The passages from the Thirty nine Articles, as they stand in No. 90. ARTICLES VI. & XX. Holy Scripture and the Authority of the Church. "Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation......The Church hath [power to decree (statuendi) rites and ceremonies, and] authority in controversies of faith; and yet it is not lawful for the Church to [ordain (instituere) any thing that is contrary to God's word written, neither may it] so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet [as it ought not to decree (decernere) any thing against the same, so] besides the same, ought it not to enforce (obtrudere) any thing to be be lieved for necessity of salva The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, or Preacher, And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following: The 3rd Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, The Book of Judith, The rest of the Book of Esther, Jesus the Son of Sirach, The Song of the three Children, All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical. ARTICLE XX. Of the Authority of the Church. "The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, 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 expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a Witness and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to to be believed for necessity of Salvation." tion." |