ii Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/formulariesoffaiOOchur FORMULARIES OF FAITH PUT FORTH BY AUTHORITY DITRINa THE EEIGN OF HENRY VIIL VIZ. ARTICLES ABOUT RELIGION, 1536. THE INSTITUTION OF A CHRISTIAN MAN, 1537. A NECESSARY DOCTRINE AND ERUDITION FOR ANY CHRISTIAN MAN, 1543. OXFORD : AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. M.DCCC.LVI. PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. The volume here reprinted is published with the design of putting into the hands of the Clergy treatises valuable for their matter, and of such rare occurrence as to be found only in public libraries, or in the pri- vate collections of the curious. It contains, as is stated in the title-page, the Formularies of Faith, vehich were put forth in the reign of Henry VIII, after the secession of that monarch from the church of Rome. To this secession, indeed, the original pub- lication of these formularies was altogether owing. The promulgation of the scriptures to the people, for the first time, in their native language; the ir- ruption of the new opinions ; the rejection of that infallible authority, to which all men had hitherto been accustomed to appeal for the relief of their consciences, and the satisfaction of their doubts; these and other circumstances of a similar nature, all bearing upon one and the same point, gave rise to a variety of opinions, which, if unchecked, might degenerate into licentiousness, and to alarms, which it became expedient without delay to quiet and assuage. Accordingly, the first Articles about Religion were a 2 IV PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. devised and set forth with the intent of establishing Christian quietness and unity among us, and avoiding contentious opinions ; and sonie of them were in- serted with the express purpose of giving comfort to the wounded spirit, and of declaring publicly that the bishop of Rome's pardons were not necessary for obtaining everlasting life, or for delivering the soids of men out of purgatory and the pains of it. At the same time it was intended to convey to the people such instruction as the circumstances of the times admitted, and which might prepare the way gradu- ally for a more ample explanation of the principles of the Christian faith. It is needless to observe that these documents cannot pretend to any authority in the present day. Nothing antecedent to the reign of Edward VI has any title to that character. It was then only that the errors of Popery were formally renounced, and the pure doctrines of Protestantism authoritatively established in this kingdom. In these formularies, accordingly, many of the tenets of Romanism are to be found, which, in the succeeding reign, on a closer examination of scripture, and under the ex- ercise of an unfettered liberty of judgment afforded by the more fortunate circumstances of that reign, were discarded as erroneous. The attentive reader, however, will not fail to observe, that, in many points, the name only of the doctrine appears to be retained, while the principle is, in fact, surren- dered ; and every portion of those doctrines which had been found by experience to be productive of PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. V evil, and of dangerous influence on the moral or religious practice of mankind, is mitigated and ex- plained away. Still, however, these documents, though they carry no authority along with them as formularies of faith, are of great importance to all, who are anxious to acquaint themselves with the rise and progress of the Protestant opinions in this country, or who would examine critically into the history and intention of those formularies which were afterwards established, and are still of primary authority in the Church of England. It is in these works too that they may trace the last departure of that darkness, which had so long obscured the genuine form of Christianity, that they may hail the reappearance of the pure light of the gospel, and mark the first dawnings of a brighter day. Nor must it be forgotten that these treatises were all composed and published under the immediate inspection and superintendence of that illustrious prelate to whom, under Providence, the Church of England is indebted for the first volume of her Ho- milies, her Articles, and her Liturgy ; and that they may be considered as representing the deliberate opinions of Cranmer on all those points in which the positive doctrines of Popery were not imme- diately concerned ; for on these points, undoubtedly, the free expression of his sentiments was impeded and overruled. It remains only to give some account of the for- mularies themselves: they are in number three. vi PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. 1. The Articles about Religion set out by the Convocation, and published by the Kings Authority in the year 1536. Under this title, but without date, they were originally printed by Bishop Burnet, from a MS. in the Cotton Library, in the Addenda to the first volume of his History of the Reforma- tion. They have, of course, been reprinted in every subsequent edition of that work. But it was not under this title that these Articles were given to the M'orld. The title of the volume which was edited by Thomas Berthelet in 1536, was, Articles devised by the hinges highnes majestic, to stablyshe Christen quietnes. &c. It was not till after the Articles had been worked off according to Burnet, that I discovered a copy of this original edition in Bishop Tanner's valuable collection now preserved in the Bodleian Library ; when, finding that it differed in many particulars, though of no essential importance, from the Cotton MS., I thought it ad- visable to subjoin an exact reprint of it to the Pre- face, without cancelling the other. The Articles are to be found also in Collyer's Eccles. Hist. II. p. 122; Fuller's Church Hist. Cent. XVL book 5. sect. 3 ; but it is observable that none of these copies coincide exactly with each other. The most material differences occur in the king's Declaration prefixed to the Articles, in which the Cotton MS. varies from all the rest. There can be no doubt however that Berthelet's edition contains the most authentic record of the Articles ; as may be con- cluded from the correction of many errors which PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. are to be found in the Cotton MS. and from the in- corporation of the Articles as they stand in the printed volume, into the Institution of a Christian Man. It seems reasonable to suppose that the Cot- ton MS, contains the Articles, as they were pre- pared by Convocation, before they were finally sub- mitted to the king ; an hypothesis confirmed by the observation which has been already made, that the principal variations occur in the king's Declaration, and more especially by a remarkable difference at the conclusion of the Article of prai/ing to Saints, where the Cotton MS. has b7/ the commandment of the supreme head; the printed volume by the commandment of us, the supreme head; the word us having, in all probability, been inserted by the king's own hand. Collyer's copy of the Articles, taken from a MS. in the Paper-Office, appears to be the earliest and most imperfect of the whole; the king's Declaration he has adopted from Fuller, as it is not found in his MS. These articles the Clergy were enjoined to explain to the people in their discourses^. 2. The Institution of a Christian Man, pub- lished in 1537, both in 4to and 8vo. I have seen no other edition. This work contains a great part of the former Articles, together with large additions on the Creed, the Ten Commandments, &c. It was called the Bishops book ^. 3. The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for any Christian Man, printed first in 1543, and again in a See Appendix A. ^ See Appendix B. viii PREFACE OP THE EDITOR. 1545, both in 4to and 8vo. The editions in 8vo, some copies of them at least, seem to carry the date 1534 in the title-page. This date however belongs not to the book itself, but to the ornamented com- partment which surrounds the letter-press of the title-page, and which was employed to embellish other books in a similar way. The true date is to be gathered from the colophon at the end ^. A free translation of this book in Latin appeared in 1544, under the title of Pia et Catholica Christ- iani Hominis Institutio. This work is, in fact, nothing more than the Institution in a varied form, Avith some additional articles on the subject of Free-will, Good-works, &c. It was called the King's Book, in contradistinction to the work last mentioned. I think it is truly said by Collyer, that it " manages with less latitude " than the Institution, bends to the six Articles, and " in some points of controversy drives farther into " the doctrines of the Roman Communion." It is probable that Gardiner had greater influence in the preparation of this work than in either of the former. It is evident from the account which has here been given of these treatises, that if the object of the Editor had been merely to put the reader in posses- c Thus, in a volume in the Bodleian Library printed by Ber- thelet, which has the same compartment in the title-page bearing the date 1534, the letter-press within the compartment is as follows : " The boke named the Governour, devised by sir Tho- " mas Elyot, knt. Londini, ann. 1546." thus evidently distin- guishing the date of the book from the date of the compartment. PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. IX sion of the matter contained in them, it would have been sufficient to reprint the Necessary Doctrine only, and to mark the differences and additions which have been just described. But, as the critical history of these treatises has been the subject of much mistake and controversy, and as it is matter of extreme difficulty for any one who is removed from the use of public libraries to obtain an oppor- tunity of collating them for himself, it appeared ad- visable to place them separate and unmutilated under the eyes of the reader. A more detailed account of these works may be found in Strype's Memorials of Cranmer, I. c. ii. 13. and 20; in his Ecclesiastical Memorials, I. 0.41. and 48 ; in Lord Herbert's History of Henry VHI. p. 465. and 557 ; in Fuller, book V. sect. 3 ; Collyer, book H. p. 122. 127. and 128; and Wilkins' Concilia, HI. p. 817 ; and more especially in Dr. Laurence's Bampton Lectures, p. 14. and 189, who has corrected the extraordinary mistakes and inaccuracies of Bur- net ; in Mr. Todd's Introduction to the Declarations of our Reformers ; and Dr. Burrow's Introduction to his Summary of Christian Faith and Practice. As it did not appear that any sufficient advantage would be derived from the retention of the ancient orthography, the modern mode has been adopted. Besides, the original editions are so inconsistent with each other, that it is not easy for an editor of the present day to find any certain rule to guide him in his decisions. I have now before me three copies of the Necessary Erudition, all professing X PREFACE OF THE EDITOR. to be printed by Berthelet on the 29th of May, 1543 ; but all differing in their mode of spelling the most ordinary words**. No other change, how- ever, has been made : and it is hoped that the reader, with the exception of the orthography, will here have an exact and accurate reprint of the original volumes. CHARLES LLOYD. Ch. Ch. Feb. 18, 1825. See Appendix C. ARTICLES DEVISED BT THE KINGES HIGHNES MAJESTIE, TO STABLYSHE CHRISTEN QUIETNES AND UNITIE AMONGE US, AND TO AVOYDE CONTENTIOUS OPINIONS, WHICH ARTICI-KS BE ALSO APPROVED BY THE CONSENT AND DETERMINATION OF THE HOLE CLERGIE OF THIS REALME. Anno M.D.XXXVI. TREATISES CONTAINED IN THIS VOLUME ARTICLES DEVISED BY THE KINGES HIGHNES MAJESTIE, TO STABLYSHE CHRISTEN QUIETNES AND UNITIE AMONGE US, AND TO AVOYDE CONTENTIOUS OPINIONS: WHICH ARTI- CLES BE ALSO APPROVED BY THE CONSENT AND DETER- MINATION OF THE HOLE CLERGIE OF THIS REALME. ANNO M.D.XXXVI. From Berthelet's edition P. xiii. ARTICLES ABOUT RELIGION, SET OUT BY THE CONVOCATION, AND PUBLISHED BY THE KING'S AUTHORITY. From the Cotton MS P. 1 THE INSTITUTION OF A CHRISTIAN MAN; CONTAINING THE EXPOSITION OR INTERPRETATION OF THE COMMON CREED, OF THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS, OF THE TEN COMMAND- MENTS, AND OF THE PATER NOSTER, AND THE AVE MARIA, JUSTIFICATION, AND PURGATORY P. 21 A NECESSARY DOCTRINE AND ERUDITION FOR ANY CHRIST- IAN MAN; SET FORTH BY THE KING'S MAJESTY OF ENG- LAND, &c. . P. 2I.'< THE PREFACE. Hmry the VIII. by the grace of God king of England and of France, defensor of the faith, lord of Ireland, and in earth supreme head of the Church of England, to all and singular our most loving, faithftd, and obedient subjects, greeting. Among other cures appertaining unto this our princely office, whereunto it hath pleased Almighty God of his infi- nite mercy and goodness to call us, we have always esteemed and thought, like as we also yet esteem and think, that it most chiefly belongeth unto our said charge diligently to foresee and cause, that not only the most holy word and commandments of God should most sincerely be believed, and most reverently be observed and kept of our subjects, but also that unity and concord in opinion, namely in such things as doth concern our religion, may increase and go forthward, and all occasion of dissent and discord touching the same be repressed and utterly extinguished. For the which cause, we being of late, to our great re- gret, credibly advertised of such diversity in opinions, as have grown and sprung in this our realm, as well concern- ing certain articles necessary to our salvation, as also touch- ing certain other honest and commendable ceremonies, rites, and usages now of long time used and accustomed in our churches, for conservation of an honest policy and decent and seemly order to be had therein, minding to have that unity and agreement established through our said Church concerning the premises, and being very desirous to eschew not only the dangers of souls, but also the outward unquiet- ness which by occasion of the said diversity in opinions (if remedy were not provided) might perchance have ensued, have not only in our own person at many times taken great XVI ARTICLES DEVISED pains, study, labours, and travails, but also have caused our bishops, and other the most discreet and best learned men of our clergy of this our whole realm, to be assembled in our convocation, for the full debatement and quiet determina- tion of the same. Where, after long and mature delibera- tion, and disputations had of and upon the premises, finally they have concluded and agreed upon the most special points and articles, as well such as be commanded of God, and are necessary to our salvation, as also divers other mat- ters touching the honest ceremonies and good and politic orders, as is aforesaid, which their determination, debate- ment, and agreement, for so much as we think to have pro- ceeded of a good, right, and true judgment, and to be agree- able to the laws and ordinances of God, and much profitable for the establishment of that charitable concord and unity in our Church of England, which we most desire, we have caused the same to be published, willing, requiring, and commanding you, to accept, repute, and take them accord- ingly. And further we most heartily desire and pray Al- mighty God, that it may please him so to illumine your hearts, that you and every of you may have no less desire, zeal, and love to the said unity and concord, in reading, divulging, and following the same, than we have had, and have in causing them to be thus devised, set forth, and pub- lished. And, for because we would the said Article.^ and every of thera should be taken and understanden of you after such sort, order, and degree, as appertaineth accordingly, we have caused, by the like assent and agreement of our said bishops and other learned men, the said Articles to be di- vided into two sorts ; whereof the one part containeth such as be commanded expressly by God, and be necessary to our salvation ; and the other containeth such things as have been of a long continuance for a decent order and honest policy, prudently instituted and used in the churches of our realm, and be for that same purpose and end to be ob- served and kept accordingly, although they be not expressly commanded of God, nor necessary to our salvation. Where- BY THE KING'S HIGHNESS. xvii foi-e wo will and require you to accept the same, after such sort as we have here prescribed them unto you, and to con- form yourselves obediently unto the same. Whereby you shall not only attain that most charitable unity and loving concord, whereof shall ensue your incomparable commo- dity, profit, and lucre, as well spiritual as other, but also you shall not a little encourage us to take further travails, pains, and labours for your commodities, in all such other matters as in time to come may happen to occur, and as it shall be most to the honour of God, the profit, tranquillity, and quietness of all you our most loving subjects. The principal articles concerning our faith. FIRST, As touching the chief and principal articles of our faith, sith it is thus agreed as hereafter followeth by the whole clergy of this our realm, we will that all bishops and preachers shall instruct and teach our people, by us com- mitted to their spiritual charge, that they ought and must most constantly believe and defend all those things to be true, which be comprehended in the whole body and canon of the Bible, and also in the three Creeds or symbols, whereof one was made by the apostles, and is the common creed, which every man useth ; the second was made by the holy council of Nice, and is said daily in the mass ; and the third was made by Athanasius, and is comprehended in the Psalm Quicunque vult : and that they ought and must take and interpret all the same things according to the selfsame sentence and interpretation, which the words of the selfsame creeds or symbols do purpoi't, and the holy approved doctors of the church do entreat and defend the same. Item, That they ought and must repute, hold, and take all the same things for the most holy, most sure, and most certain, and infallible words of God, and such as neither ought, ne can be altered or convelled, by any contrary opin- ion or authority. Item, That they ought and must believe, repute, and take all the articles of our faith contained in the said b XVllI ARTICLES DEVISED, &c. creeds to be so necessary to be believed for man's salva- tion, that whosoever being taught will not believe them as is aforesaid, or will obstinately affirm the contrary of them, he or they cannot be the very members of Christ and his espouse the church, but be very infidels or heretics, and members of the Devil, with whom they shall perpetu- ally be damned. Item, That they ought and must most reverently and religiously observe and keep the selfsame words, according to the very same form and manner of speaking, as the ar- ticles of our faith be already contained and expressed in the said creeds, without altering in any wise, or varying from the same. Item, That they ought and must utterly refuse and con- demn all those opinions contrary to the said articles, whicli were of long time past condemned in the four holy coun- cils, that is to say, in the council of Nice, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedonense, and all other sith that time in any point consonant to the same. The sacrament of Baptism. SECONDLY, As touching the holy sacrament of bap- tism, we will that all bishops and preachers shall instruct and teach our people committed by us unto their spiritual charge, that they ought and must of necessity believe certainly all those things, which hath been always by the whole consent of the church approved, received, and used in the sacrament of baptism ; that is to say, that the sa- crament of baptism was instituted and ordained in the New Testament by our Saviour Jesu Christ, as a thing necessary for the attaining of everlasting life, according to John iii. the saying of Christ, Nisi quis renafus fuerit ex aqua ct Spiritu Sancto, non potest intrare in reyniom coelorum, : that is to say, No man can enter into the kingdom of heaven, except he be born again of water and the Holy Ghost. Item, That it is offered unto all men, as well infants as such as have the use of reason, that by baptism they shall have remission of sins, and the grace and favour of God, SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. XIX according to the a saying of Christ, Qui credidcrit et bapti- Matt. xvi. zatus fuerit, salvus erit : that is to say, Whosoever believ- eth and is baptized shall be saved. Item, That the promise of grace and everlasting life (which promise is adjoined unto this sacrament of baptism) pertaineth not only unto such as have the use of reason, but also to infants, innocents, and children ; and that they ought therefore and must needs be baptized : and that by the sacrament of baptism they do also obtain remission of their sins, the grace and favour of God, and be made there- by the very sons and children of God. Insomuch as in- fants and children dying in their infancy shall undoubtedly be saved thereby, and else not. Item, That infants must needs be christened because they be born in original sin, which sin must needs be re- mitted ; which cannot be done but by the sacrament of baptism, whereby they receive the Holy Ghost, which ex- erciseth his grace and efficacy in them, and cleanseth and purifieth them from sin by his most secret virtue and ope- ration. Item, That children or men once baptized, can, ne ought ever to be baptized again. Item, That they ought to repute and take all the ana- baptists' and the Pelagians' opinions contrary to the pre- mises, and every other man's opinion agreeable unto the said anabaptists' or the Pelagians' opinions in this behalf, for detestable heresies, and utterly to be condemned. Item, That men or children having the use of reason, and willing and desiring to be baptized, shall, by the virtue of that holy sacrament, obtain the grace and remission of all their sins, if they shall come thereunto perfectly and truly repentant and contrite of all their sins before com- mitted, and also perfectly and constantly confessing and believing all the articles of our faith, according as it was mentioned in the'^ first article. » saying of Christ,] saying of John — Collier. in the tirst article.] in the article herebefore, or else not. — Collieh. b 2 XX ARTICLES DEVISED, .Ic. And finally, if they shall also have firm credence and trust in the promise of God ad joined to the said sacrament, that is to say. that in and by this said sacrament, which they shall receive, God the Father giveth unto them, for his son Jesu Christ's sake, remission of all their sins, and the grace of the Holy Ghost, whereby they be newly rege- nerated and made the very children of God, according to Matt. iii. the sav ing of saint John and the apostle saint Peter, De- Arts\"' lictorum poenitentia7n agite, et haptizetur umtsquisqiie ve- strum in nomen Jesu Christ i in remissionem peccatorum, et accipietis donum Spiritus Sancti ; that is to say, Do penance for your sins, and be each of you baptized in the name of Jesu Christ, and you shall obtain remission of your sins, and shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. And according also to the saying of saint Paul, Xon ex operibus justitice quce fecimus nos, sed secundum suam r/ii- sertcordiam, sahos nos fecit per lavacrum regemrationis et renovationis Spiritus Sancti, quern effudit in nos opu- lente per Jesum Christum Sercatorem nostrum, ut justifi- cati illius gratia hceredes efficiamur juxta spem vitce cetemce ; that is to say, God hath not saved us for the works of justice which we have done, but of his mercy by baptism, and renovation of the Holy Ghost, whom he hath poured out upon us most plentifully, for the love of Jesu Christ our Saviour, to the intent that we, being justified by his grace, should be made the inheritors of everlasting life, according to our hope. The sacrament of Penance. THIRDLY, Concerning the sacrament of penance, we will that all bishops and preachers .shall instruct and teach our people committed by us unto their spiritual charge, that they ought and must most constantly believe, that that sacrament was institute of Christ in the New Testa- ment as a thing so necessary for man's salvation, that no c saying of saint John and the apostle saint Peter,] saying of Christ and his apostle St. Peter — Collier. SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. xxi man, which after his bapti^sm is fallen again, and hath com- mitted deadly sin, can, without the same, be saved, or at- tain everlasting life. Item, That like as such men which after baptism do fall again into sin, if they do not penance in this life, shall un- doubtedly be damned ; even so whensoever the same men shall convert themselves from their naughty life, and do such penance for the same as Christ requireth of them, they shall without doubt attain remission of their sins, and shall be saved. Item, That the sacrament of perfect penance which Christ requireth of such manner persons consisteth of three parts, that is to say, contrition, confession, and the amendment of the former life, and a new obedient recon- ciliation unto the laws and will of Girod, that is to say. ex- terior acts in works of charity according as they be com- manded of God, which be called in scripture, /rwc^MS digni pcenifentia, the worthy fruits of penance. Furthermore, as touching contrition, which is the first part, we will that all bishops and preachers shall instruct and teach our people committed by us unto their spiritual charge, that the said contrition consisteth in two special parts, which must always be conjoined together, and can- not be dissevered ; that is to say, the penitent and con- trite man must first knowledge the filthiness and abo- mination of his own sin, (unto which knowledge he is brought by hearing and considering of the will of God de- clared in his laws,) and feeling and perceiving in his own conscience that God is angry and displeased with him for the same ; he must also conceive not only great sorrow and inward shame that he hath so grievously offended God, but also great fear of God's displeasure towards him, considering he hath no works or merits of his own which he may worthily lay before God, as sufficient satisfac- tion for his sins ; which done, then afterward with this fear, shame, and sorrow must needs succeed and be con- joined the second part, that is to wit, a certain faith, trust, and confidence of the mercy and goodness of God, whereby XXll ARTICLES DEVISED, &zc. the penitent nuist conceive certain hope and faith tliat God will forgive him his sins, and repute him justified, and of the number of his elect children, not for the worthi- ness of any merit or work done by the penitent, but for the only merits of the blood and passion of our Saviour Jesu Christ. Item, That this certain faith and hope is gotten and also confirmed, and made more strong by the applying of Christ's words and promises of his grace and favour, con- tained in his gospel, and the sacraments instituted by him in the New Testament ; and therefore to attain this certain faith, the second part of penance is necessary, that is to say, confession to a priest, if it may be had ; for the absolution given by the priest was institute of Christ to apply the promises of God's grace and favour to the penitent. Wherefore as touching confession, we will that all bi- shops and pi-eachers shall instruct and teach our people committed by us to their spiritual charge, that they ought and must certainly believe that the words of absolution pronounced by the priest, be spoken by authority given to him by Christ in the gospel. Item, That they ought and must give no less faith and credence to the same words of absolution so pronounced by the ministers of the church, than they would give unto the very words and voice of God himself if he should speak unto us out of heaven, according to the saying of John XX. Christ, Quorumciinqiie remiseritis peccata, remittuntur eis : Luke X. quorumcunque retinueritis retenta sunt : that is to say, Whose sins soever ye do forgive, shall be forgiven : whose sins soever ye do retain, shall be retained. And again in Luke X. another place Christ saith, Qui vos audit me audit, &c. ; that is to say, \V^hosoever heareth you heareth me, &c. Item, That in no wise they do contemn this auricular confession which is made unto the ministers of the church, but that they ought to repute the same as a very ex- pedient and necessary mean, whereby they may require and ask this absolution at the priest's hands, at such time SACRAMENT OF PENANCE. xxiii as they shall find their consciences grieved with mortal sin, and have occasion so to do, to the intent they may thereby attain certain comfort and consolation of their consciences. As touching the third part of penance, we will that all bishops and preachers shall instruct and teach our people committed by us to their spiritual charge, that although Christ and his death be the sufficient oblation, sacrifice, satisfaction, and recompense, for the which God the Fa- ther forgiveth and remitteth to all sinners not only their sin, but also eternal pain due for the same ; yet all men truly penitent, contrite, and confessed, must needs also bring forth the fruits of penance, that is to say, prayer, fasting, almsdeeds, ^^and must make restitution or satisfac- tion in will and deed to their neighbours, in such things as they have done them wrong and injury in, and also must do all other good works of mercy and charity, ^ and express their obedient will in the executing and fulfilling of God's commandment outwardly, when time, power, and occasion shall be ministered unto them, or else they shall never be saved ; for this is the express precept and commandment of God, Agite fructus dignos j)(enitenti