1595. THE LAMBETH ARTICLES.

1604

The wide prevalence of Calvinistic theology in England during Elizabeth's reign is indicated by the controversy at Cambridge between Whitaker, Regius Professor, and Baro, Margaret Professor, of Divinity, the latter of whom was compelled to resign for teaching that "Christ died sufficiently for all," and for maintaining that this was the doctrine of the English Articles. To this controversy the compilation of the "Lambeth Articles" is ultimately traceable. Archbishop Whitgift, desiring to settle matters, called to his aid certain bishops and divines, and at Lambeth a paper of Articles was drawn up and agreed upon. These Articles are nine in number, and assert in most uncompromising form the main points of the Calvinistic Theology. They never had any authority whatever. At the Hampton Court Conference the Puritans petitioned that the "Lambeth Articles" might be added to the Thirty-nine, but the request was refused.1 The history of these Articles suggests two important reflections:(1.) The Calvinistic party could not have been by any means satisfied that the XXXIX. Articles were Calvinistic in sense, otherwise they would scarcely have thought it necessary to add a statement of Calvinistic doctrine to them.2

(2.) When an express statement of Calvinistic doctrines was offered for the acceptance of the English Church, it was deliberately refused. Such doctrines therefore form no part of the theology of our Church.

1604. The fifth of the CANONS of this date lays down that, "Whosoever shall hereafter affirm that any of the nineand-thirty Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and

1 They were, however, incorporated with the Irish Articles of 1615. See Appendix VI.

2 That the Calvinistic party was not satisfied with the Church of England Articles is also clearly shown by the action of the Westminster "Assembly of Divines," who in 1643 commenced a revision of the Articles, "with a design to render their sense more express and determinate in favour of Calvinism" Neal, "History of the Puritans," vol. i. p. 48, ed. 1754). The committee actually revised the first fifteen Articles. The text of these as revised is given at length in Appendix IV.

(see

Bishops of both provinces, and the whole clergy, in the convocation holden at London, in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred and sixty-two, for avoiding diversities of opinions, and for the establishing of consent touching true Religion, are in any part superstitious or erroneous, or such as he may not with a good conscience subscribe unto; let him be excommunicated ipso facto, and not restored, but only by the Archbishop, after his repentance, and public revocation of such his wicked errors."

1628. HIS MAJESTY'S DECLARATION was prefixed to the XXXIX. Articles. Its immediate cause seems to have been the strong censure of Arminianism uttered by the House of Commons, and it was put forth with a view of settling or smoothing the raging controversy between Arminians and Calvinists. It enjoins that the Articles be taken "in the literal and grammatical sense," and points to Convocation as the proper body for settling disputed points of doctrine or discipline. The "Declaration " was drawn up by Laud, but not submitted to Convocation, so that it had not the sanction of the Church, but was put forth solely on the King's authority.

1635. The XXXIX. Articles adopted by the Convocation of the Church of Ireland.

804. The Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church accepted the XXXIX. Articles.

1865. In this year there was passed " An Act to amend the law as to the declarations and subscriptions to be made, and oaths to be taken, by the clergy" (28 and 29 Vict. c. 112). This Act provides that a clergyman, on being instituted to a living, shall, on the first Sunday that he officiates there, "publicly and openly in the presence of his congregation read the whole Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, and immediately after reading them, make the declaration of assent to them."

III

ANALYSIS OF THE XXXIX. ARTICLES

THE Articles may be divided into groups under the following heads: I. ARTICLES SETTING FORTH THE FOUNDATION TRUTHS

RELIGION (I.-V.).

OF

The great truths embodied in the Ancient Creeds and held in all ages by the Church are here set forth, with very little in the way of comment or exposition.

II. ARTICLES GIVING THE RULE OF FAITH (VI.–VIII.).

The great principle which underlay the Reformation is laid down, viz., the sufficiency of Holy Scripture as containing all things necessary to salvation.

III. ARTICLES DEALING WITH INDIVIDUAL RELIGION (IX.-XVIII.) These set forth the theory of man's unregenerate and regenerate state, and deal with those points more particularly upon which variety of opinion existed amongst those who had separated from Rome. Articles IX.XIV. are concerned more especially with the great subject of Justification, which had been brought into such. prominence by Luther's work in Germany. Articles XV.XVIII. are connected rather with those questions upon which the systematic teaching of Calvin turned.

IV. ARTICLES DEALING WITH CORPORATE RELIGION (XIX.XXXVI.).

These fall into two groups-(a) Those dealing with the nature, constitution, order, and authority of the Church (XIX-XXI., XXIII., XXIV., XXXII-XXXVI.). (b) Those setting forth the doctrine of the Sacraments, and including the condemnation of Purgatory, &c. (XXII., XXV.-XXXI.). It is in this group that we have the greatest divergence from the Church of Rome.

V. ARTICLES DEALING WITH NATIONAL RELIGION (XXXVII.XXXIX.).

These treat of the Church and of the individual Christian in their relation to the State.

ARTICLES

AGREED UPON

BY THE ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS OF BOTH

PROVINCES, AND THE WHOLE CLERGY,

IN THE CONVOCATION HOLDEN AT LONDON IN THE YEAR 1562, FOR THE AVOIDING OF DIVERSITIES OF OPINIONS, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHING OF CONSENT TOUCHING TRUE RELIGION:

REPRINTED BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMANDMENT,

WITH HIS ROYAL DECLARATION

FREFIXED THEREUNTO.