God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith; insomuch, that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known, as a tree discerned by the fruit." With the (a) Necessary Erudition, the (b) Homily of Faith, the (c) Catechismus Brevis, and the (d) Apologia of Jewel, as well as with the (e) Confession of Augsburg, the agreement here is obvious.

What remains of the particular proceedings of this Convocation, has been (f) often printed. The thirty-nine Articles were subscribed, as they have appeared in Latin; as in 1571, after some revision, they were again generally subscribed in English, conformably to the injunction of the Parliament: to which injunction, as having settled the Articles, all subsequent Acts, which mention them, refer; and the ratification, subjoined to them, has therefore borne the unvaried date of 1571. In regard to manuscripts, both

(a) See p. 39, et seq.

(b) Ibid. p. 93.

(c) Ibid. p. 136.

(d) Ibid. p. 139.

(e) Art. XX. Aug. Conf, p. 156.

(f) Burnet, Strype, Gibson's Synod. Angl. p. 191, et seq.

maintained

That

maintained and impugned as the (g) original subscriptions on these occasions, the importance of the question is diminished, when we consider the memorable subscription which was made, when James the first ascended the throne. no dispute as to any clause or expression, in consequence of pretended omission or interpolation, might fairly be made, a printed copy of the Articles was now subscribed. This subscription in 1604, is believed to be (h) "the most regular that ever was made to the Articles ;" and was consigned to the (i) custody of the president of the Convocation, after all the signatures had been made. The (k) reason of this subscription, however, has to some been not apparent; and the record of it, from the manner in which it has been spoken of, may by many be supposed to be lost. Enabled to certify the

(g) Bennet's Essay on the 39 Articles of Religion, 1715. Collins's Hist. and Crit. Essay on the 39 Art. 1724. Examination of Bp. Burnet's Hist. of the 39 Art. 1702. Defence of Bp. Burnet, in Answ. to the Exam. 1703.

(h) See the present volume, p. 213.

(i) As that of 1562 had, in like manner, been consigned to the archbishop. See Bennet's Essay, p. 212.

(k) See the present volume, pp. 203. 205.

preservation,

preservation, and to ascertain, I trust, the occasion, of this general subscription, I have, therefore, thought it due to the history and authority of our Articles, to devote an appendix in this work to such employment. To this I subjoin a vindication of the authority, as well as an illustration of the history, of these Articles, in a Charge delivered to the Clergy, by one of our ablest divines; at a period, when a refined theology, despising the wisdom of past ages, and whining over the pretended hardship of subscribing to this formulary of faith, supplied the Socinianism of later times with the epithet absurd for that, which itself, with equal contempt of truth, pronounced grievous.

Before, however, we come to these parts of the volume, there will be found, I should observe, as chronologically preceding them, considerable extracts from the Confession of Augsburg; the whole article from the Saxon Confession, " De Remissione Peccatorum, et Justificatione;" and such passages in our Liturgy, as concern the points which the Articles and Homilies exhibit. For the purposes of comparison, and mutual interpretation, these are adduced. And this observation naturally brings me to

the design of

briefly

briefly noticing some doctrinal, as well as historical, circumstances, relating to the subjects of this compilation.

II. In considering the doctrines, which the publick declarations in this volume set forth, we find, that to Cranmer we must look as the principal teacher. One of the sources, from which he drew his materials, was (1) "that boast of Germany, and pride of the Reformation, the Confession of Augsburg. Prudent, cautious, and steady in his attachments; fearful of extremes, and distrustful of novelties; he principally turned his eye to that favourite quarter, from which the ray of truth had originally proceeded, and where it still shone with undiminished lustre. But to descend into a minute comparison of the two productions, would lead me too far from my purpose; it seems sufficient to notice the fact of a manifest resemblance between them, which in some instances amounts to a direct transcript of whole passages, in others, to the adoption only of leading sentiments and peculiar phraseology."-I have, therefore, selected parts of those Articles, in this venerable Con

(1) Dr. Laurence, Serm. p. 39.

fession,

fession, which define (m) Original Sin; which represent the (n) sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of all mankind; which explain (0) Justification, and declare that the (p) preaching of the Gospel and the Sacraments are the ordinary means, used by God, to infuse the Holy Spirit, who produces Faith; and that (q) Faith produces Good Works, to which we are obliged by the law of God; that (r) Baptism is requisite for salvation, and that little children ought to be baptized; that (s) they are to be condemned, who say, that they can no more sin as long as they live here, or who deny forgiveness to such as truly repent; that in all men there is (t) FreeWill, having the judgement of reason, but not that which is sufficient for those things that belong unto God, without being governed and assisted by the Holy Spirit; that (u) Remission

(m) See the present volume, p. 143.

(n) Ibid. p. 143, 144.

(o) Ibid. p. 144, et seq.

(p) Ibid. p. 146.

(4) Ibid. p. 147, et seq.

(r) Ibid. p. 149.

(s) Ibid.

p. 150.

(t) Ibid. p. 150, 151.

(u) Ibid. p. 152, et seq.

of