March 28, 2010

The 32-35 Articles of the Church of England: Miscellaneous

The 39 Articles of the Church of England along with a number of other Creeds gained special importance in the Unitas Fratrum or the Moravian Church, because in them the main doctrines of the Christian faith find clear, simple expression. It is the position of the Unitas Fratrum or the Moravian Church that every person should be able to read and understand the beliefs of our Church.

Of the Marriage of Priests: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God's laws either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage. Therefore it is lawful also for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness.

Of Excommunicated Persons, how they are to be avoided: That persons which by open denunciation of the Church is rightly cut off from the unity of the Church and excommunicated, ought to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful as an heathen and publican, until he be openly reconciled by penance and received into the Church by a judge that hath authority thereto.

Of the Traditions of the Church: It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all places one or utterly alike; for at all times they have been diverse, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's word.

Whosoever through his private judgement 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 other may fear to do the like, as he that offendeth against common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the magistrate, and woundeth the conscience of the 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.

Of 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 understood by the people.

Of the Names of the Homilies

1. Of the right Use of the Church

2. Against peril of Idolatry

3. Of the 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 ministered 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