Ad Smyrn.

Epist. 55.

as rebels against Christ, and by his notorious crimes ist become a scandal to the Christian name, should be driven out from the communion of the Church, and be looked upon as a heathen, since he lives such a heathenish life? It is the duty of all good Christians to withdraw themselves from every brother that walketh thus disorderly, to note that man, and to have no company with him, that he may be ashamed, 2 Thess. iii. 6, 14. But if he repent, he is to be restored again to communion with the Church. But in the mean time it is to be observed, that princes and subjects, husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and servants, notwithstanding any sentence of excommunication, ought to perform their respective duties to each other; since these are obligations which have no dependence on the religion of the persons they are to be performed to.

See 1 Cor. v. 3, 4, 5. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

See also Ignatius. "I caution you against beasts in the shape of men, whom you ought not only not to receive, "but also, if possible, not to meet."-And St. Cyprian. "Whoever holds not the unity of the Church, how much 66 soever he may boast of himself, and whatever he may "claim to himself, he is a profane person, an alien, and "without the pale of the Church."

Ought to be taken, &c.] See 1 Cor. v. 11, 13. But now I have written unto you, not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such an one, no not to eat. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. And Matt. xviii. 17. If he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. See also St. Cyprian. Depart, I beseech you, from such persons, and ac"quiesce in the advice you have had from us."

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By a judge that hath authority] That is, by a bishop, or at least by a person to whom this episcopal power is rightly delegated. See Potter of Ch. Government, Ch. 5. Sect. 8. Whitgift's Defence, Tract 18. Field of the Church, B. 1. Č. 15.

ARTICLE XXXIV.

Of the Traditions of the Church.

It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like: for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word. Whosoever through his private judgment, 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 Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of 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, so that all things be done to edifying.

Rites and ceremonies are matters indifferent in themselves; but when they are established by the authority of the Church, they ought 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 that have the rule over us, and to submit ourselves. He Heb.xiii.17. who doth otherwise is a schismatic.-See Rom. xiv. 17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Page 466.

See also Irenæus, who in his account of the dispute between Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, concerning the observation of Easter, hath these words: "St. Polycarp being at Rome, with "Anicetus, and they having had some little controversy "with each other about other things, presently composed "the difference, and showed themselves also to be no "lovers of strife upon that particular head. For neither "could Anicetus persuade Polycarp to desist from observ"ing Easter according as he had always observed it with "St. John, the disciple of our Lord, and with the rest of "the Apostles, with whom he had been conversant; nor "could Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it other"wise than, as he said it was his duty to do, according "to the custom of the elders who were before him. This being the case between them, they notwithstanding "communicated with each other."

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May fear] See 1 Tim. v. 20. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Offendeth against the common order, &c.] See 1 Cor. xi. 16. If any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the Churches of God. And 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Hurteth the authority, &c.] See Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

Woundeth the conscience of the weak] Namely, by leading them into sin by their own bad example. See 1 Cor. viii. 12. When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Every particular or national, &c.] For such Churches are equal in authority, so that they have no power over each other. But Christ is the King and Lord of them all: and therefore in such things as he hath neither commanded nor forbidden, every Church may use its own liberty, as occasion shall require.

See Preface to the Common Prayer. Hooker's Eccl. Pol. B. III. and IV. Sect. 13. Whitgift's Def. Tract. 2. Prideaux's Fasc. Cont. C. 4. Sect. 3. Q. 5. Burscough of Schism, Sect. 4. 6.

Be done to edifying] See Rom. xiv. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

ARTICLE XXXV.

Of the Homilies.

THE Second Book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this Article, doth contain a godly and wholesome doctrine, and necessary for these times, as doth the former Book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth; and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers, diligently and distinctly, that they may be understanded of the people.

Of the Names of the Homilies.

1. Of the right use of the Church. 2. Against peril of Idolatry.

3. Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches.

4. Of Good Works: first of Fasting. 5. Against Gluttony and Drunkenness. 6. Against excess of Apparel.

7. Of Prayer.

8. Of the Place and Time of Prayer. 9. That Common Prayers and Sacraments ought to be administered in a known tongue.

10. Of the reverend estimation of God's Word.

11. Of Alms-doing.

12. Of the Nativity of Christ.

13. Of the Passion of Christ.

14. Of the Resurrection of Christ.

15. Of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.

16. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
17. For the Rogation Days.

18. Of the state of Matrimony.
19. Of Repentance.
20. Against Idleness.
21. Against Rebellion.

In this Article, the doctrine contained in the Books of Homilies is asserted, in opposition to the Romanists, who have condemned them as heretical; and the reading them in churches is approved of, in opposition to the Puritans, who have contended that nothing ought to be publicly read in churches besides the Scriptures.

See Whitgift's Def. Tract. 21. Hooker's Eccl. Pol. B. V. Sect. 20.

But the truth and reasonableness of this Article will best appear by perusing the Homilies themselves. And, indeed, it concerns all persons, especially those who are to subscribe to these Articles, seriously to read over the Homilies also. They are certainly very useful treatises; in perusing of which, they will have no occasion to think their labour lost. They abundantly prove the doctrine. they lay down; and, whenever it is requisite, they confirm it also by the testimonies of the Fathers.

ARTICLE XXXVI.

Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers. THE Book of Consecration of Archbishops and Bishops, and Ordering of Priests and Deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of Parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such Consecration and Ordering: neither hath it any thing that of itself is superstitious and un