Anglican Communion -- Apologetic works; Church of England -- Apologetic works
We receive and embrace all the canonical Scriptures, both of the Old and
New Testament, giving thanks to our God, who hath raised up unto us that
light which we might ever have before our eyes, lest either by the
subtlety of man, or by the snares of the devil, we should be carried away
to errors and lies. Also that these be the heavenly voices, whereby God
hath opened unto us His will: and that only in them man's heart can have
settled rest; that in them be abundantly and fully comprehended all
things, whatsoever be needful for our salvation, as Origen, Augustine,
Chrysostom, and Cyrillus have taught: that they be the very might and
strength of God to attain to salvation: that they be the foundations of
the Prophets and Apostles, whereupon is built the Church of God: that
they be the very sure and infallible rule, whereby may be tried, whether
the Church do stagger, or err, and whereunto all ecclesiastical doctrine
ought to be called to account: and that against these Scriptures neither
law, nor ordinance, nor any custom ought to be heard: no, though Paul his
own self, or an angel from heaven, should come and teach the contrary.
* * * * *
Moreover, we allow the Sacraments of the Church, that is to say, certain
holy signs and ceremonies, which Christ would we should use, that by them
He might set before our eyes the mysteries of our salvation, and might
more strongly confirm our faith which we have in His blood, and might
seal His grace in our hearts. And these Sacraments, together with
Tertullian, Origen, Ambrose, Hierom, Chrysostom, Basil, Dionysius, and
other Catholic fathers, do we call figures, signs, marks or badges,
prints, copies, forms, seals, signets, similitudes, patterns,
representations, remembrances and memories. And we make no doubt,
together with the same doctors, to say, that these be certain visible
words, seals of righteousness, tokens of grace: and do expressly
pronounce, that in the Lord's Supper there is truly given unto the
believing the body and blood of the Lord, the flesh of the Son of God,
which quickeneth our souls, the meat that cometh from above, the food of
immortality, grace, truth, and life, and the Supper to be the communion
of the body and blood of Christ; by the partaking whereof we be revived,
we be strengthened, and be fed unto immortality; and whereby we are
joined, united, and incorporate unto Christ, that we may abide in Him,
and He in us.
Besides, we acknowledge there be two Sacraments, which, we judge,
properly ought to be called by this name; that is to say, Baptism and the
Sacrament of thanksgiving. For thus many we say were delivered and
sanctified by Christ, and well allowed of the old fathers, Ambrose and
Augustine.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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