things are to be inferred: the one is, that the fubfcription does import an affent to the Article; and the other is, that an Article being conceived in fuch general words, that it can admit of different literal and grammatical fenfes, even when the fenfes given are plainly contrary one to another, yet both may fubfcribe the Article with a good confcience, and without any equivocation. To make this more fenfible, I thall give an inftance of it in an Article concerning which there is no difpute at present. The third Article concerning Chrift's defcent into hell is capable of three different fenfes, and all the three are both literal and grammatical. The firft is, that Chrift defcended locally into hell, and preached to the fpirits there in prifon; and this has one great advantage on its fide, that those who first prepared the Articles in King Edward's time were of this opinion; for they made it a part of it, by adding in the Article thofe words of St. Peter as the proof or explanation of it. Now though that period was left out in Queen Elizabeth's time; yet no declaration was made against it; fo that this fenfe was once in poffeffion, and was never exprefsly rejected: befides that, it has great fupport from the authority of many Fathers, who understood the defcent into hell according to this explanation. A fecond fenfe, of which that Article is capable, is, that by hell is meant the grave, according to the fignification of the original word in the Hebrew; and this is fupported by the words of Chrift's defcending into the lower parts of the earth; as alfo by this, that feveral Creeds, that have this Article, have not that of Chrift's being buried; and fome, that mention his burial, have not this of his defcent into hell. A third fenfe is, that by hell, according to the fignification of the Greek word, is to be meant the place or region of fpirits feparated from their bodies: fo that by Chrift's defcent into hell is only to be meant, that his foul was really and entirely difunited from his body, not lying dead in it as in an apoplectical fit, not hovering about it, but that it was tranflated into the feats of departed fouls. All these three fenfes differ very much from one another, and yet they are all fenfes that are literal and grammatical; fo that in which of these foever a man conceives the Article, he may fubfcribe it, and he does no way prevaricate in fo doing. If men would therefore understand all the other Articles in the fame largeness, and with the fame equity, there would not be that occafion given for unjust cenfure that there has been. Where then the Articles are conceived in large and general words, and have not more special and restrained terms In the fourteenth line of this Article, immediately after thefe words (But yet Have not like natuze with Baptism and the Lord's Supper) follows, quomodo nec pœnitentia, which being marked underneath with minium, is left out in the tranflation. This Article agrees with the original, as far as thefewords, (and hath given occafion ARTICLE XXVI. ARTICLE XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper. to many Superftitions) is not only a sign of, &c. where follows, Chriftus in cœlum afcendens, corpori fuo immortalitatem dedit, naturam non abftulit, humanæ enim naturæ veritatem (juxta Scripturas) perpetuo retinet, quam uno et definito loco effe, et non in multa vel omnia fimul loca diffundi oportet; quum igitur Chriftus in cœlum fublatus, ibi ufque ad finem fæculi fit permanfurus, atque inde, non aliunde (ut loquitur Auguftinus) venturus fit, ad judicandum vivos et mortuos, non debet quifquam fidelium, carnis et ejus et fanguinis realem, et corporalem (ut loquuntur) præfentiam in Euchariftia vel credere vel profiteri. These words are marked and fcrawled over with minium, and the words immediately following (Corpus tamen Chrifti datur, accipitur, et manducatur in coena, tantum cœlefti et fpirituali ratione) are inferted in a different hand just before them, in a line and a half left void; which plainly appears to be done afterwards, by reafon the fame hand has altered the first number of lines, and, for viginti quatuor, made quatuordecim. The three laft Articles, viz. the 39th, Of the Refurrection of the Dead; the 40th, that the Souls of Men do neither perish with their bodies (neque otiofi doriniant is added in the original); and the 42d, that all fhall not be faved at laft, are found in the original, diftinguifhed only with a marginal line of minium: but the 41ft, Of the Millenarians, is wholly left out. The number of Articles does not exactly agree, by reafon Some are inferted, which are found only in King Edward's Articles, but none are wanting that are found in the original. Corpus Corpus Chrifti Col. Feb. 4th, 1695-6. UPON examination we judge these to be all the ma terial differences, that are unobferved, between the original manufcripts and the B. of Salisbury's printed copy. Witness our hands. Jo. Jaggard, Will. Lunn, Fellows of the faid College. After I had procured this, I was defirous likewife to have the printed editions collated with the fecond publication of the Articles in the year 1571; in which the Convocation reviewed those of 1562, and made fome small alterations and these were very lately procured for me by my reverend friend, Dr. Green, which I will fet down as he was pleased to communicate them to me. [Note, MS. ftands for Manufcript, and Pr. for Print.] Art. 1. MS. and true God, and he is everlasting, without body. Pr. and true God, everlasting, without body. Art. 3. MS. fo alfo it is to be believed. Pr. fo alfo is it to be believed. Art. 4. MS. Chrift did truly arife again. MS. until he return to judge all men at the laft Pr. until he return to judge men at the last day. Art. 6. MS. to be believed as an Article of the Faith. Pr. to be believed as an Article of Faith. MS. requifite as neceflary to falvation. Pr. requifite or necessary to falvation. MS. in the name of holy Scripture. Pr. in the name of the holy Scripture. MS. but yet doth it not apply. Pr. but yet doth not apply. MS. Baruch. Pr. Baruch the prophet. MS. and account them for canonical. Pr. and account them canonical. Art. 8. MS. by most certain warranties of holy Scripture. Pr. by most certain warrant of holy Scripture. Art. Art. 9. MS. but it is the fault. MS. whereby man is very far from his original Pr. whereby man is far gone from original righteousness. MS. in them that be regenerated. Pr. in them that are regenerated. Art. De Gratia, non habetur in MS. Art. 10. MS. a good will and working in us. Art. 14. MS. cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. Pr. cannot be taught without arrogancy and ini quity. MS. we be unprofitable fervants. Pr. we are unprofitable fervants. Art. 15. MS. fin only except. Pr. fin only excepted. MS. to be the Lamb without fpot. Pr. to be a Lamb without spot. MS. but we the reft, although baptized, and born again in Chrift, yet we all offend. Pr. but all we the reft, although baptized, and if born in Chrift, yet offend. Art. De Blafphemia in Sp. Sanct. non eft in MS. Art. 16. MS. wherefore the place for penitence. Art. 17. MS. fo excellent a benefit of God given unto them, be called according. Pr. So excellent a benefit of God, be called ac cording. MS. as becaufe it doth fervently kindle their love. Art. Omnes obligantur, &c. non eft in MS. Art. 18. MS. to frame his life according to the law and the light of nature. Pr. to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. Art. 19. MS. congregation of faithful men in the which the pure Word. Pr. Pr. congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word. Art. 20. MS. The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controverfies of faith. And yet. Thefe words are not in the original MS. Art. 21. MS. and when they be gathered together (forafmuch. Pr. and when they be gathered (forasmuch. Art. 22. MS. is a fond thing vainly invented. Art. 24. MS. in a tongue not underftanded of the people. Pr. and effectual figns of grace and God's will MS. and extream annoyling. Pr. and extream unction. Art. 26. MS. in their own name, but do minifter by Christ's commiffion and authority. Pr. in their own name, but in Chrift's, and do mi- MS. and in the receiving of the Sacraments. Art. 27. MS. from others that be not christned, but is also a fign. Pr. from others that be not chrifined, but it is also a fign. MS. forgiveness of fin, and of our adoption. Pr. forgiveness of fin, of our adoption. Art. 28. MS. to have amongst themselves. Pr. to have among themfelves. partaking MS. the bread which we break is a communion of the body of Chrift. Pr. the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ. partaking MS. and likewife the cup of bleffing is a com munion of the blood of Christ. Pr. and likewife the cup of bleffing is a partaking of the blood of Chrift. C MS. |