XXXVII.' (if the Civil Mm tint rotes.— The queen's majesty hath the chief power in this realm of England, and other her dominions, unto whom the chief government of all estates of
this realm, whether they he ecclesiastical or civil, in all cases doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any for-
Where we attribute to the queen's maje-ty the chief govern- ment, by which titles we understand the minds of some slan- derous folk- to he offended, we give not to our princes the ministering either of Cod's Word or of the sacraments, the which thing the injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our queen do most plainly testify, but that only prerogative Which we Pee to have been given always to all godly princes in Holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should
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rule all states and degree.? committed to their charge by God, whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal, and restrain with j the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers.
The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this realm of England.
The laws of the realm may punish Christian men with death for heinous and grievous offences.
It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the magistrate, to wear weapons and serve in the wars.
XXXVIII. Of Christian men's Goods, which are not com- mon. The riches and goods of Christians are not common, as
touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain Anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.
XXXIX. Of a Christian man's Oath.— As we confess that vain and rash swearing i< forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ and dames the apostle, so we judge that Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and chari- ty, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in jus- tice, judgment, and truth.
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States adopted in convention, September 12, 1801, the Thirty-nine Articles, except the 21st, with certain mod- ifications, which are stated as follows by the American editor of Hook's Church Dictionary:
" In the eighth article we have left out the words 'three creeds' and 'Athanasius creed,' having reject- ed that creed as an exponent of our faith. The 21st article, 'Of the authority of general councils,' i; left out altogether ; and, though the No. xxi and title is retained, an asterisk refers us to a foot-note which says, 'the 21st of the former articles is omitted lie- cause it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for as to the remaining p irt of it in other ar- ticles.' After the 35th article, 'Of homilies,' our re- viewers have inserted the following explanation in bracket. 'This article is received in this church so far as it declares the books of homilies to be an expli- cation of Christian doctrine, and instructive on piety and morals. But all references to the constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable to the circumstances of this church, which also suspend the order for the reading of said homilies in churches, un- til a revision of them may be conveniently made, for the clearing of them, as well from obsolete words and phrases as from the local references.' The 36th arti- cle, 'Of the consecration of bishops and ministers,' is altered to suit the peculiarities of the American Church. The 37th article ' Of the power of the civil magis- trates,' is a new one entirely superseding that of the Church of England, which sets forth the queen's su- premacy in church and state, the annulling of papal jurisdiction in England, the power of the laws of the realm to punish with death, and the lawfulness of wearing weapons and serving in wars at the com- mandment of the magistrates. The Am?riean article is a biblical statement of a great and fundamental j principle, applicable to all men, and under all circum- stances. The American articles were ordered to be set | forth by the General Convention assembled in Tren- j ton, New Jersey, in September, 1801."
As to the sources of the English articles, besides what has been said above, it may not be amiss to add that the 1st, 2d, 25th, and 31st agree not only in their doc- trine, but in most of their wording, with the Confes- sion of Augsburg. The 9th and 16th are clearly due to the same source. Some of them, as the 19th, 20th, 25th, and 34th, resemble, both in doctrine and language, certain articles drawn up by a commission appoint- ed by Henry VIII, and annotated by the king's own hand. The 11th article, on justification, is ascribed to Cranmer, but the latter part of it only existed in the articles of 1552. The 17th, on predestination, has afforded matter of great dispute as to the question whether it is meant to affirm the Calvinistic doctrine or no. On this point, see Laurence, Hampton Lectures ; Browne On 39 Articles, p. 120 sq., and our articles Arminianism, Calvinism, with further references there. The Thirty-nine Articles have been described as "containing a whole body of divinity." This can