Transubstantiation, or the change of the substance of bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, over- throweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.
The body of Christ i-< given, taken, and eaten in the Sup- per only after a heavenly and spiritual manner; and the means whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's or- dinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.
XIX. Of both Kind*.— The cup of the Lord is not to be de- nied to the lay people; for both the parts of the Lord's Supper, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be admin- istered to all Christians alike.
NX. Of lite one Oblation of Christ, finished uj.on the Cross. — The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemp- tion, propitiation, and satisfaction for .all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; ami there is none other sat- isfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in the which it is commonly said that the prie t doth offer Christ for the quick ami the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous dectit.
ARTICLES
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ARTICLES
XXI. Of the Marriage of Ministers. —The ministers of
Christ are not commanded by (rod's law either to vow the state of single Hie, or to ah-tain from marriage ; therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christians, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve best to godliness.
XXII. Of the Rites and Ceremonies of Churches.— It is not D cs-arv that rites and ceremonies should in all places be
or exactly alike; for they have been always differ- ent, and may be changed according to the diversity of coun- tries times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judg- ment, willinglyand purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of 'the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendcth against the com- mon order of the church, and wouudeth the consciences of weak brethren.
Kvery particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.
XXIII. Of the Rulers of the United State* of America — The President, the Congress, the General Assemblies, the gov- ernors, and the Councils of State, as the del; ates of the peo- ple, are the rulers of the United States of America, according to the division of power made to them by the Constitution of the L'nited States, and by the Constitutions of their respect- ive states. And the said states are a sovereign and indepen- dent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign juris- diction. As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty of Christians, and especially all Christian ministers, to be subject to the supreme authority of the country where they may reside, and to use all lawful means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be; and therefore, it is expedient that all our preachers and people, who may be under the British or any other government, will behave themselves as peaceable and orderly subjects.
XXIV. Of Christian Men's Goods. — The riches and goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwith- standing, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.
XXV. Of a Christian Man's Oath As we confess that
vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and James his apostle, so we judge that the Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate reiuireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth.
These are, in substance, the Articles of the Church of England, omitting the 3d, 8th, 13th, loth, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 23d, 26th, 29th, 33d, 31th, 36th, and 37th. On comparison, it will be found that these omissions are nearly all made in order to greater com- prehension and liberality in the Creed. The 23d arti- cle (adopted in 1804) is especially to be noted, as giv- ing the adhesion of the church at that early period to the doctrine that the "United States" constitute "a sovereign nation." The articles, in their present form, are a modification of those originally framed for the church by Wesley, and printed in the Sunday Service of the Mrtkotlisfs. They were adopted, with the Litur- gy, at the Christian Conference of 1781. The changes made in them since that period (except the political one above referred to, made necessary by the adoption of the national Constitution) arc chiefly verbal; and some of them appear to be due to typographical errors in successive reprints of the Book of Discipline. For a list of the changes, see Emory, History of the Disci- pline, oh. i, | 2. See also Jimeson, Notes on the 25 Articles (Cincinnati, 1853, 12mo); Comfort, Exposition of the Articles I X. Y. 1847, 12mo); Stevens. History of the M< thodist Episcopal < %urch (N. Y. 1865, 3 vols. 8vo). See Methodist Episcopal Church.