cause it violates that unity of the Church, which every member of it should strive to preserve. Rom. xvi. 17, 18; 1 Cor. i. 10; iii. 3; Gal. v. 20; 1 S. John ii. 18, 19; S. Jude 19. See Sect. XI. 2.

8. In the Invisible Church there can be no error, either in doctrine or practice: heretics and schismatics, therefore, can only arise in the Visible Church, of which they continue to be members, though unsound and corrupt members; while Infidels, Atheists, and Apostates are entirely cut off from it.

9. The Reformation in England was not a schism. The Church of England was just as much THE Church of England after that period as she was before it only she cast off the novelties of Popery,1 and, having thus freed herself from Romish errors, she became, what she was before her connection with Rome, a sound and independent branch of the Holy Catholic Church.

10. The Church of Rome, by retaining these errors, though she still remained a branch of the Catholic Church, continued an awfully corrupt one; became separated from the Church of England, and cannot lawfully claim any jurisdiction or supremacy, spiritual or temporal, within these realms.

Q. WHAT DOST THOU CHIEFLY LEARN IN THESE ARTICLES OF THY BELIEF?

A. FIRST, I LEARN TO BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER, WHO HATH MADE ME, AND ALL THE

WORLD.

1 The Church of Rome was ancient and once purer. The novelties belong to the Papal system of gradual growth and late introduction.

SECONDLY, IN GOD THE SON, WHO HATH REDEEMED ME, AND ALL MANKIND.

THIRDLY, IN GOD THE HOLY GHOST, WHO SANCTIFIETH ME, AND ALL THE ELECT PEOPLE of God.

XVI. 1. The essential part, the sum and groundwork of the Creed, is in this question and answer stated to be a belief in the Holy TRINITY; namely, that there is but one Living and True GOD; and that "in unity of this Godhead there be Three Persons, of One Substance, Power, and Eternity." 2. The Unity of the Godhead is expressly declared throughout the Sacred Scriptures. Sect. II. 1.

See

3. The existence of Three Persons, Co-Eternal and of One Substance, in this Godhead is taught

In the Form of Baptism, which is administered not in the Names, but in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST. S. Matt. xxviii. 19.

In the Form of Blessing, 2 Cor. xiii. 14, where, being joined together in a petition for spiritual graces implies their co-equal and co-essential Deity.

GOD is represented in several passages as a Trinity of Divine Persons; viz., Gen. i. 1, 26; iii. 22; Numb. vi. 24-26; Isa. vi. 3, et seq.; compare S. John xii. 41; S. Matt. iii. 16, 17; S. John xiv. 16; Gal. iv. 6; Ephes. ii. 18; S. Jude 20, 21.

4. The FATHER, as has been shown, is GOD, Sect. II.; the SON is GOD, Sect. IV. 19; and the HOLY GHOST is GOD, Sect. 58; and yet there is but One GOD, Sect. X. 2. "The Catholic Faith, therefore, is that we worship One GOD in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity."1

1 Athan. Creed.

5. Although the Three Persons are of One Substance, Power, and Eternity; so that "in this TRINITY none is afore or after the other; none is greater or less than another;" yet they are distinguished

1

First, in this way: GOD "the FATHER is made of none,' ," is Self-Existent; GOD "the SON is of the FATHER alone, not made, nor created, but Begotten;" and GOD the HOLY GHOST is neither made nor begotten, but proceedeth from the FATHER and the SON. See Sect. II. 1; IV. 15— 17; X. 2.

Secondly, they are distinguished also by a difference of Office and Operations.

GOD THE FATHER MADE ME AND ALL THE WORLD; i.e., created all existing beings, but not exclusively of the SON and the HOLY GHOST in the work of creation. See Sect. III. 4.

GOD THE SON REDEEMED ME AND ALL MANKIND; i.e., saved or delivered all men from the guilt and punishment of their sins, by paying a price for them, even the price of His own Precious Blood. See Sect. VI.

GOD THE HOLY GHOST SANCTIFIETH ME AND ALL THE ELECT PEOPLE OF GOD; i.e., all those whom GOD has elected (chosen) out of the world, and admitted into covenant with Himself in Baptism; and if they "remain in the number of His faithful and elect people," by adhering to their Baptismal engagements, the HOLY GHOST will continue to sanctify them to the end. See Sect. X.

1 Athan. Creed.

71.

PART III.

THE CHRISTIAN DUTY.

Q. YOU SAID, THAT YOUR GODFATHERS AND GODMOTHERS DID PROMISE FOR YOU, THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS. TELL ME

HOW MANY THERE BE?

A. TEN.

I. 1. This refers to the third head of the Baptismal vow; namely, that we should keep GOD's Holy Will and Commandments.

2. GOD's Holy Will and Commandments are fully declared in His Revealed Word; but are briefly summed up in the Ten Commandments, as they are expressly called by Moses, Exod. xxxiv. 28; Deut. iv. 13; x. 4.

3. They are also called "the Tables of Testimony, Exodus xxxi. 18; xxxii. 15; xxxiv. 29; and "the Words of the Covenant," Exod. xxxiv. 28; Deut. iv. 13, et al. By modern writers they are usually denominated "the Decalogue," or Ten Words.

4. In the division of these Commandments into ten there is a diversity: S. Augustine and the Church of Rome joining the two first together as one, and dividing the last into two; and the Church of England following, as it seems, the more natural and more ancient division. The text of Scripture does not point out the mode.

Q. WHICH BE THEY?

A. THE SAME WHICH GOD SPAKE IN THE TWENTIETH CHAPTER OF EXODUS, SAYING, I AM THE LORD THY GOD, WHO BROUGHT THEE OUT OF THE Land of EgypT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.

II. 1. The Ten Commandments which we promised in our Baptism to keep, are the same which GOD spake to the Children of Israel, in Exodus xx. saying, I AM THE LORD THY GOD, in the Hebrew, "JEHOVAH thy ELOHIM;" WHICH BROUGHT THEE OUT OF EGYPT, called the HOUSE OF BONDAGE, because they were bondsmen and slaves there; Exod. i. 13, 14; ii. 23; iii. 7, et seq.

1

2. They were spoken on Mount Sinai, after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, Exod. xix. 1, 20; so, likewise, are they proclaimed to us after we are by Baptism delivered from the spiritual bondage of sin and Satan. See Part I. Sect. VI. 27, et seq.

3. They were twice written by the Finger of GOD on two tables of stone, Exod. xxxi. 18; xxxii. 16; xxxiv. 1, 2; Deut. x. 1; and in like manner they are written "in the fleshy tables of the heart" of all who are by Baptism regenerate; 2 Cor. iii. 3.

4. These Tables of stone were placed in the Ark, Deut. x. 5; Heb. ix. 4; which was therefore called "the Ark of Testimony," Numb. iv. 5; and "the Ark of the Covenant," Numb. x. 33.

5. They are also placed in some conspicuous part of our churches, to remind Christians of their Baptismal vow to keep them.

6. The Ten Commandments are binding upon Christians, because

I See Part II. Sect. 11. 2.