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walk more warily in thefe dangerous days; fleeing from fuch vices, for which you affirm with your own mouths the curfe of God to be due.

CURS

-Anfwer. Amen.

-Answer. Amen.

Anfwer. Amen. the fatherless, and widow.

URSED is the man that maketh any carved or molten image, to worship it. Deut. 275 15. And the People fall answer and fav, Amex. Minifter. Curfed is he that curfeth his father or mother. ver. 16.Minifter. Carfed is be that removeth his neighbour's land mark. ver. 17.Minifter. Curfed is he that maketh the blind to go out of his way. ver. 18.. Minifter. Curfed is he that perverteth the judgement of the stranger v. 19. Anfwer. Amen. Minifter. Curfed is he that fmiteth his neighbour fecretly ver. 24. Amen. Minifter. Curfed is he that lieth with his neighbour's wife, Lev. 20. 10. Apfwer. Amen. Minifter. Curfed is he that taketh reward to lay the innocent. Deut. 27, 25 -Anfwer. Amen. Minifter. Curfed is he that putteth his truft in man, and taketh man for his defence, and, in his heart goeth from the Lord. Jer. 17. 5.— -Anfwer. Amen.

Anfwer.

Minifter. Curfed are the unmerciful fornicators, and adulterets, covetous perfons, idolaters, flanderers, drunkards, and extortioners. S. Matth. 25, 41. 1 Cor. 6, 9, 10. Answer, Amen,

No

Minifter

Ow feeing that all they are accurfed (as the prophet David beareth witnefs) who do err and go aftray from the Commandments of God, let us (remembering the dreadful judgment hanging over our heads, and always ready to fall upon us) return unto our Lord God with all contrition and meeknefs of heart; bewailing and lamenting our finful life, acknowledging and confeffing our offences, and feeking to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. For now is the ax put unto the root of the trees; fo that every tree, that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and caft into the fire. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God: He shall pour down rain upon the finners, foares, fire and brimstone, ftorm and tempeft; this fhall be their portion to drink. For lo, the Lord is come out of his place to vifit the wickedness of fuch as dwell upon the earth. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who fhall be able to endure when he appeareth His fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. The day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night: and when men fhall fay, Peace, and all things are faft, then fball fudden deftruction come upon them, as forrow cometh upon a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. Then fhall appear the wrath of God in the day of vengeance, which obftinate finners, through the ftubbornness of their heart, have heaped unto themselves which defpifed the goodness, patience, and long-fufferance of God, when he called them continually to repen. tance. Then fhall they call upon me (faith the Lord) but I will not hear; they fhall feek me early, but they Thall not find me; and that because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the Lord, but abhorred my counsel, and defpifed my correction. Then fhall it be too late to knock, when the door fhall be shut and too late to cry for mercy, when it is the time of justice. O terrible voice of molt just judgment, which fhall be pronounced upon them, when it shall be faid unto them, Go ye curfed into the fire everlafting, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. Therefore, brethren, take we heed betime, while the day of falvation fatteth; for the night cometh when none can work But let us, while we have the light, believe in the light, and walk as children of the light, that we be not caft into utter darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Let us not abuse the goodness of God, who calleth us mercifully to amendment; and of his endless pity promifeth us forgiveness of that which is paft, if with a perfect and true heart we return unto him, For though our fins be as red as fearlet, they fhall be as white as fnow : and though they be like purple, yet they fhall be made white as wool. Turn ye (faith the Lord) from all your wickedness, and your fin fhall not be your deftruction. Caft away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done; make you new hearts, and a new fpirit: Wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Ifrael; teeing that I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, faith the Lord God? Turn ye then, and ye shall live. Although we have finned, yet we have an Advocate with the Father, Jefus Chrift the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our fins. For he was wounded for our offences, and fmitten for our wickednefs. Let us therefore return unto him, who is the merciful receiver of all true penitent finners; affuring ourfelves that he is ready to receive us, and moft willing to pardon us, if we come unto him with faithful repentance; if we will submit ourselves unto him, and from henceforth walk in his ways; if we will take his eafy yoke, and light burden upon us, to follow him in lowlinefs, patience, and charity, and be ordered by the governance of his Holy Spirit; feeking always his glo. ry, and ferving him duly in our vocation with thanksgiving. This if we do, Chrift will deliver us from the curfe of the law, and from the extreme malediction which fhall light upon them that shall be fet on the lef: hand; and he will fer us on his right hand, and give us the gracious benediction of his Father, commanding us to take poffeffion of his glorious kingdom: unto which he vouchsafe to bring us all, for his infinite mercy.

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dency; as it points out to us the dreadful confequences of tainly mifunderstand it who reprefent the laying Amen to Sin, in order to lead us to Repentance: And they mott cer- the declarations in the former past of it as Curling or With

Then shall they all kneel upon their knees, and the Prieft and Clerks kneeling (in the Place where they are accuftomid to jay the Litany) shall say the 51st. Pfalm.

O

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Chrift, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, &c.

Minifter. O Lord, fave thy fervants;

Anfw. That put their trust in thee.

Minifter. Send unto them help from above;

Anfw. And evermore mightily defend them.

Minifter. Help us O God, our Saviour.

Anfw. And for the glory of thy name deliver us; be merciful to us finners; for thy Names fake.
Minifler. O Lord hear cur prayer,

Anfw. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister. Let us pray.

LORD, we beseech thee mercifully hear our prayers, and spare all thofe who confefs their fins unto thee: that they whofe confciences by fin are accufed by thy merciful pardon may be abfolved, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

MOST wouldnt not the death of a fanner, but that he mould rather turn from had MOST mighty God, and merciful Father, who haft compaffion upon all men, and hateft nothing that be faved; Mercifully forgive us our trefpalles; receive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied with the burden of ur fins. Thy property is always to have mercy: to thee only it appertaineth to forgive fins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, fpare thy people whom thou haft redeemed; enter not into judgement with thy fervants, who are vile earth, and miferable finners; but so turn thine anger from us, who meekly acknow ledge our vilenefs, and truly repent us of our faults; and fo make hafte to help us in this world, that we may ⚫ever live with thee in the world to come, through Jelus Chrift our Lord. Amen. ....

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Then shall the people, ay this that followeth, after the Minifter:

URN thou us, O good Lord, and fo fhall we be turned. Be favourable O Lord, be favourable to thy people, Who turn to thee in weeping, fafting, and praying. For thou art a merciful God, full of compaffion, long-fuffering, and of great pity. Thou fparell when we delerve punithment, and in thy wrath thinket upon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, fpare them. And let not thine heritage be brought to conution. Hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies look upon us, through the merits and mediation of thy bleffed Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

Then the Minifier alone shall fay,

THE Lord blefs us, and keep us; the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and give us peace now

and for evermore. Amen.

ing ill to fuch as are guilty of the Crimes there fpoken of. Because if we attend to each of thofe fentences we shall find that the expreffion is not Curfed be, &c, but Curfed is he

that doeth, &c. and Amen here does not fignify as in the end of the Prayers, So be it, or I pray God it may be fo but as it is in the end of the Creed, all this I firmly believe.

1. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity.

HERE is but One living and true God, everlasting without body, parts, or paffion; of infinite power, T wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preferver of all things, both visible and invifible. And in unity of this Godhead there be three Perfons, of one fubftance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft.

11. Of the Word, or Son of God which was made very Man.

HE Son, which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlafting of the Father, the very and eternal TGod, of one fubftance with the Father, took Man's nature in the womb of the bleffed Virgin, of her fub

ftance: fo that two whole and perfect Natures, that is to fay, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Perfon, never to be divided, whereof is one Chrift, very God, and very Man; who truly fuffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a facrifice, not only for original guilt, but alfo for actual fins of men..

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III. Of the going down of Chrift into Hell

S Chrift died for us, and was buried; fo allo is it to be believed, that he went down into Hell,

IV. Of the Refurrection of Christ."

HRIST did truly rife again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things apper taining to the perfection of Man's nature, wherewith he afcended into Heaven, and there fitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.

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V. Of the Holy Ghoft.

HE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one Subftance, Majefty, and Glory, with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

VI. Of the fufficiency of the holy Scriptures for Salvation.

TOLY Scripture containeth all things neceffary to Salvation: fo 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 requifite or neceffary to Salvation. In the name of the holy Scripture we do understand thofe Canonical Books of the Old and New Teftament, of whofe Authority was never any doubt in the Church Of the Names and Number of the Canonical BOOKS.

Genesis,

Exodus,

Leviticus,
Numeri,

Deuteronomium, tanqPnX

Joshua,

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Judges,

Ruth,

The L. Book of Samuel,

The I. Book of Samuel,

The I. Book of Kings,

The II. Book of Kings,

The Book of Hefter,

The Book of Job,
The Pfalms,
The Proverbs,
Ecclefiaftes, or Preacher,
Canta, or Songs of Solomon,
IV. Prophets the greater,
XII. Prophets the lefs,

And the other Books (as Hierome faith) the Church doth read for example of life and inftruction of manners ; doth it not apply them to establish any Doctrine: Such are these following,

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The Book of Judith,
The rest of the Book of Hefter,
The Book of Wisdom,
Fejus the Son of Syrach,

The reafons for compiling thefe Articles feem to have been firft thefe, in imitation of the German Proteftants, to make known the true opinions of the Church of England; and the real caufes of her oppofition to the Church of Rome. 2dly, To keep all fuch out of its Pale, as might be difpofed fecretly to undermine and betray it. For as the Reformers had fmarted long under the tyranny of Popery, so they had rea

Baruch the Prophet,

The Song of the three Children,

The Story of Sufanna,
Of Bel and the Dragon,
The Prayer of Manaffes,
The I. Book of Maccabees,
The II. Book of Maccabees,

fon to endeavour to fecure themselves from it, and from all its Abettors. Thefe Articles were probably prepared at first by CRANMER and RIDLEY, and publ fhed by royal Authority, first in the Reign of King EDWARD the 6th, 1552; and again with fome alterations in the Reign of Queen ELIZA BETH, 1563.

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all the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account them Canonical. VIL. Of the Old Teftament.

THE HE Old Teftament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Teftament everlating life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man, Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the Old Fathers did look only for trantisory Promifes. Al though the Law given from God by Mofes, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do no: hind" Chriftian men, nor the Civil Precepts thereof ought of neceility to be received in any Commonwealth: yet notwith@anding, no Chriflian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moraly VIII. Of the three Creeds.

HE Three Creeds, Nice Creed, Athanafius's Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apofiles Creed, ought throughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by molt certain warrants of boly Scripture.

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1X Of Original or Birth Sin.

RIGINAL Sin ftandeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk) but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is ingendred of the offspring of Adam, wherary man is very far gone from original righteoufnefs, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, fo that the fleh luffeth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every perfon born into this world, it deferveth Gods wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain; yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the luft of the flesh, called in Greek, Phronema jarkos, which fome do xpound the wisdom, fome fenfuality, fome the affection, fome the defire of the flesh, is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no con demnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confefs, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of fin. X. Of free-will,

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HE condition of man after the fall of Adam, is fuch, that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own good works pleafant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Chrift p eventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.

XI. Of the Juftification of Man.

With, and not for our own works or defervings. Wherefore, that we are juftified by faith only, is

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E are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, by moft wholfome Doctrine, and very full of comfort as more largely is expreffea in the Homily of Juftification XII. Of Gaca Works.

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LBEIT that good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Juftification, cannot put away our fins, and endure the feverity of God's Judgment; yet are they pleafing and acceptable o God in Chrill and do fpring out neceffarily of a true and lively Faith; infomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree difcerned by the fruit.

XIII Of Works bafore Juftification.

ORKS done before the grace of Chritt, and the infpiration of his fpirit, are not pleafing to God, for) afmuch as they fpring not of faith in Jefus Chrift, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School-Authors fay) deferve grace of congruity: yea, rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of fin.

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XIV. Of Works of Supererogation.

TOLUNTARY Works befides, over and above God's Commandments which they call Works of Superero. gation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety for by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his fake, than of bounden dur ty is required: whereas Christ faith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, fay, We ate unprofitable fervants.

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XV. Of Chrift alone without Sin

HRIST in the truth ofour nature, was made like unto us in all things, (fin only except 3) from which he was clearly void, both in his feth, and in his fpirit. He came to be a lamb without fpot, who by f crifice of himself once made, fhould take away the fins of the world: and fin (as St. John faith) was not in him. But all we the reft (although baptized and born again in Chrift) yet offend in many things; and if we fay we have no fin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

XVI. Of Sin after Baptifm repentance is not

OT every deadly in willingly committed after Baptifm, is fin against the Holy Ghost, and unparden

to fall into fin after Baptifm.

ter we have received the Holy Ghoft, we may depart from grace given, and fall inte fin, and by the grace of God (we may) arife again, and amend our lives, And therefore they are to be condemned, which fay, they can no more fin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to fuch as truly repent

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XVII. Of Predeflination and Election.) 15

Redeftination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath conftantly deciced, by his Council, fecret to us, to deliver from curfe and damnation those whom he hath chofen in Chrift out of mankind, and to bring them by Chrift to everlasting falvation, as veffels made to honour. Wherefore they which be endued with to excellent a benefit of God, be called according to Gods parpofe by his Spirit working in due featon: they through grace obey the calling: they be juftified freely: they be mad tons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only begotten Son Jefus Chrift: They wa k religi ully in good works, and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlafting felicity.

As the godly contideration of Predeflination, and our Election in Christ is full of (weet, pleafant, and unfpeakable confort to godly perfons, and fuch as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Chrift, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as weil because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal falvation, to be enjoyed through Chrift, as because it doth fervantly kindle their love towards God: So, for curious and carnal per fons, lacking theipiit of Chrift, to have continually before their eyes the fentence of Gods Predestination, is a meft dangerous downfall, whereby the Devil aoth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlesness of me ft unclean living, no lefs perilous than defperation.

Furthermore, we must receive Gods Promifes in fuch wife as they be generally fet forth to us in holy Scrip ture: And in our doings, that will of God is to be followed, which we have exprefly declared unto us in the word of God.

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XVIII. Of obtaining eternal Saluation only by the Name of Chrift.

HEY alfo are to be had accurfed, that prefume to fay, that every man thall be faved by the Law or Sect which he profeffeth, fo that he te diligent to frame his life according to that Law and the Light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth it out unto us only the Name of Jefus Christ, whereby men muit be faved. XIX. Of the Church

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EI Evifible Church of Chrift is a Congregation of faithful men, in the which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly intered according to Christs Ordinance, in all those things that ck neceffity are requifite to the fame.

As the Church of Hierufalem, Alexandria, and Antisch, have erred; fo alfo the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonie, but alfo in matters of Faith.

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.

HE Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies. and Authority in controverfies of Faith: And

Tyet it is not law up for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to Gods Word written, neither may it fo expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church. be a Withels and a Keeper of Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree any thing against the fame, so befides. the fame ought it no: to enforce any thing to be believed for neceffity of falvation.

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XXI. Of the Authority of general Councils.

ENERAL Councils may not be gathered together without the commandment and will of Princes. And when they be gathered together (forafmuch as they be an Affembly of Men, whereof all be not governed with the Spirit and Word of God) they may err, and fome times nave erred, even in things pertaining unto God. Wherefore things ordained by them as neceffary to talvation, have neither frength nor Authority, unlefs it may be declared that they be taken out of Holy Scripture.

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XXII. Of Purgatory

HE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping and Adoration, as well of images, as of reliques, and alfo invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no war ranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

XXIII. Of Ministering in the congregation.

Tis not lawful for any Man to take upon him the office of public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments

In the Congregation, before he be lawfully called, and fent to execute the fame. And those we ought to judge lawfully called and fent, which be chofen and called to this Work by men who have publick Authority given unto them in the Congregation, to call and fend Ministers into the Lords Vineyard.

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XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in fuch as tongue as the people underflandeth.

Tis a thing plainly repugnant to the word of God, and the cultom of the Primitive Church, to have Pub lic Prayer in the Church, or to Minister the Sacraments in a Tongue not, underbanded of the people. XXV. Of the Sacraments.

ACRAMENTS ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Chriftian mens profeflion but rather

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S they be certain fare witneffics, and effectual signs of grace, and Gods good will towards us, by the which

he doth work invifibly in us, and doth not only quicken but alfo ftrengthen and confirm our faith in him. There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to fay, Baptifm and the Sup per of the Lord.

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