I' XIV THE TWENTY-FIVE ARTICLES T will now be helpful to group together, and in order, the Twenty-five Articles of Religion, make a brief survey of their general scope, notice particularly their titles, and perceive at least some of the chief things they teach. Observe, in the first place, the titles of the Articles of Religion of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their order. They are as follows: I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. II. Of the Word, or Son of God, who was made very Man. III. Of the Resurrection of Christ. IV. Of the Holy Ghost. V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for VI. Of the Old Testament. VII. Of Original or Birth Sin. VIII. Of Free Will. IX. Of the Justification of Man. X. Of Good Works. XI. Of Works of Supererogation. XIII. Of the Church. XIV. Of Purgatory. XV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the People Understand. XVI. Of the Sacraments. XVII. Of Baptism. XVIII. Of the Lord's Supper. XIX. Of both Kinds. XX. Of the one Oblation of Christ, finished upon the Cross. XXI. Of the Marriage of Ministers. XXII. Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches. XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United States of America. XXIV. Of Christian Men's Goods. XXV. Of a Christian Man's Oath. Merely glancing over the titles of these Articles will show the chief points of which they treat. Thus they deal with such fundamental questions, as God, Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the Trinity; they deal with Sin, sinfulness, and depravity; they consider Salvation from sin and sinning, and from the penalty and power of sin, and declare that Christ is the complete Saviour; they discuss Free Will and Justification by faith; they present the Holy Scriptures as the rule of faith and practice and as containing "all things necessary to salvation," and indicate the "canonical books" both of the Old and the New Testaments; and they speak of the Church, the Sacraments, and of other important subjects, all of which shows how very comprehensive the Articles are. We now insert the Twenty-five Articles in full as they were in 1784: ARTICLES OF RELIGION I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity 2 There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body parts, or passions;' of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. II. Of the Word, or Son of God, who was made very Man The Son, who was the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father,3 the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, aud buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of men. III. Of the Resurrection of Christ Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended "In 1820" both " was omitted. were omitted, and it read 811 Begotten from everlasting of the Father" was omitted in 1786. into Heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day. IV. Of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one Substance, Majesty, and Glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. V. The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Holy Scripture containeth' all things necessary to Salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, or❜ may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an Article of the3 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 of the Canonical Books Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua 1 In 1816 made to read: "The Holy Scriptures contain." 'In 1808, or was changed to nor-" nor may be proved." * In 1789, the was omitted so that it read: "Article of Faith." In 1790 "Of" was taken out and the form began "The Names of the Canonical Books are." Ruth The First Book of Samuel The First Book of Chronicles The Second Book of Chronicles The Book of Ezra The Book of Nehemiah The Book of Hester The Book of Job The Psalms The Proverbs Ecclesiastes or the Preacher All the books of the New Testament as they are commonly received, we do receive and account Canonical. 'Of the Old Testament The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting 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 who feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses as touching Ceremonies and Rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the Civil Precepts thereof of necessity be received in any Commonwealth; yet, notwithstanding, 'In the print of 1784, the number is omitted. |