to have publick Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments, in a Tongue not understanded of the People.

To preach in a Tongue not understood.) This would be of very little, or rather of no use to the people assembled. " Since " all divine worship is rather an act of the mind than of the " body; it follows then, that the worship in which the mind is " not employed, is impious and absurd." Archdeacon Welchman. If I know not the meaning of the voice, saih Paul, I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian; and be that speaketh will be a Barbarian unto me. 1 Cor. xiv. II. For to speak, or preach in a strange Language not understood by the hearers, profiteth not the congregation: Edifieth not the weak, instructeth not the ignorant; as is the intent of all preaching; but is rather an offence to the hearers, and bringeth contempt on religion. I would rather Speak five words in the Church, faith St. Paul, with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown Tongue. I Cor. xiv. 19. Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, and St. Cyprian, agree to this article, in their epistles. See also Homily on the Common Prayer, and Sacrament, &c.

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ART. XXV. Of the Sacraments. ACRAMENTS ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's Profeffion: but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptifm, and the Supper of the Lord.

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Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being fuch as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, for that they have any not visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.

The Sacraments were not ordained of Chrift to be gazed upon, or to be carried about; but that we should duly use them. And in such only, as worthily receive the fame, they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul faith.

Sacraments be not only Badges and Tokens, but rather they be certain fure witnesses and effectual figns ef God's Grace, &c.] They are indeed tokens by which Christians are known and diftinguished from Jews, Turks, or Infidels. And moreover, they be visible signs of an invisible Grace; and do really convey that Grace of which they be signs, to those who receive them worthily, that is, with an humble, penitent, believing heart; feeing themselves the most unworthy. These, by the grace of the holy Spirit affifting them, do really and truly receive the thing fignified by this blessed Sacrament, that is, the remission of fins, and other special graces from the Lord. See Acts x. 47. Matt. xxviii. 26. But not all, do receive this: And these bleffings are witnessed to the real believer's heart by the fealing of the Holy Ghost, Rom. viii. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless, faith St. Paul, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Chrift ? The Bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? 1 Cor. x. 16. And, that he might Sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word. Eph. v. 26, 27.

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Two Sacraments.) It is plain from Scripture that Christ instituted only two Sacraments, that is, Baptifm and the Supper of the Lord, so called. For to these only do the dignity of Sacraments agree. See Matt. xxviii. 19. Mark xvi. 18. 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26. The other five, commonly called Sacraments, viz. Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, these the Papists allow to be Sacraments, but our Church doth not allow them; because not inftituted as fuch, either by our Lord, or his Apostleser Yet they are to be used in their proper places by us, and not to be abused. And St. Paul faith, that he who eateth the Bread, or drinketh the Cup of the Lord unworthily, that is without Faith, is guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ, Cor. xi. 17. This the ancient Church and primitive Fathers most of them agree to. As St. Augufline, Si. Chrysostom, &c. See Homily on the Sa

ART. XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the Effect of the Sacraments.

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LTHOUGH in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and fometimes the evil have the chief authority in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments: yet forafmuch as they do not the fame in their own name but in Christ's, and do minifter by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the word of God, and in the receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Chrift's ordinance taken away by their wickednefs, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from fuch as by faith, and rightly, do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promife, although they be ministered by evil men.

Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that enquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their Offences; and finally being found guilty, by just Judgment be deposed.

The evil being ever mingled with the good, &c.] Even in the Church of Chrift: the tares are mixed with the wheat. Yet we are to observe, the ministers of the word of God do not adminifter their own, but Christ's Sacraments: and the congregation in receiving them hath respect unto Christ himself, and not to the minifter that deals the Bread and Wine, and therefore it receiveth them not so much from the hand of the minifter as from Christ himself, as to the virtue and efficacy of them. Yet a true and faithful minister will certainly, by his earnest prayer to God, cause the Lord more powerfully to bless the means. St. Augustine faith, " A minister, that is, a dispenser " of the Word and Sacraments of the Gospel, if he be a good " man, is an associate with the Gospel; but if he be a bad " man, he is not a dispenser of the Gospel." -Judas preached the Gospel, as well as Peter and John, because he was so commanded of Christ; yet he was a bad man. Matt. x. 1, 12. And the Scribes and Pharisees fat in Moses's feat. And therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, said our Lord, that observe and do: but do not after their works, for they say and do not. Matt. xxiii. 2, 3.

Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by, c.] Some preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will and love, so Christ is preached faith St. Paul, and I do therein rejoice. Phil. i. 15.-18. "For neither is he that " planteth any thing, or he that watereth, but God that giveth "the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 17.

As appertaining to discipline.) Against anElder receive not an accufation, but before two or three witnesses, &c. And if found guilty, should be reproved. See 1 Tim. v. 19.

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ART. XXVII. Of Baptifm.

APTISM is not only a fign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christian men are difcerned from others that be not Chriftened: but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptifin rightly are grafted into the Church: the promises of forgiveness of Sin, and of our adoption to be the fons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly figned and fealed: faith is confirmed, and grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptifm of young children is in any wife to be rerained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Chrift.

Baptism, . “ Baptifm is taken from a Greek word, " which signifies wathing, or immersing in water, and whether " the Sacrament of Baptifm be administered by sprinking or " dipping in water, is immaterial; both point out to us, the " grace which is conferred by this Sacrament; for as the filth " of the body is cleansed by water, so are the stains of the foul by the remission of fins." See Heb. x. 22. And as the two Sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, have been treated on in the 25th article, I need say the less here, only refer to the proofs; as every child who has learned the Catechism, can tell the meaning of these two Sacraments: that they be outer visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.

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Baptism is not only a figu of profession, but a sign and seal of regeneration or the new birth of Christians.] Whereby, they are ingrafied into Christ; bave the promise of remission of fins; are made children of God by faith, and beirs of the kingdom of Heaven. See Gal. iii, 26, 27. Tit. iii. 5. 1 Cor. xii. 13. Acts ii. 38, 41. Matt. xvi. 16. Acts. xxii. 16.

Of young Children.] Infants and young Children, as well as adult persons, by the word of God, are to be baptized. Bap