The Book of Religions Part 12

"9. We are accounted righteous before G.o.d, only for the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.

"10. Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of G.o.d's judgments, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to G.o.d in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree is discerned by its fruit.

"11. Voluntary works, being over and above G.o.d's commandments, which are called works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto G.o.d as much as they are bound to do, but they do more for his sake than of bounden duty is required; whereas Christ saith plainly, 'When ye have done all that is commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.'

"12. Not every sin willingly committed after justification, is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification; after we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of G.o.d, rise again, and amend our lives. And, therefore, they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.

"13. The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure word of G.o.d is preached, and the sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

"14. The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshipping and adoration as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the word of G.o.d.

"15. It is a thing plainly repugnant to the word of G.o.d, and the custom of the primitive church, to have public prayer in the church, or to minister the sacraments, in a tongue not understood by the people.

"16. Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and G.o.d's good-will towards 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 to the gospel; that is to say, baptism and the supper of the Lord.

"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 such as have partly grown out of the _corrupt_ following of the apostles, and partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have not the like nature of baptism and the Lord's supper, because they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of G.o.d.

"The sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith. (1 Cor. 11:29.)

"17. Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference, whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized, but it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the church.

"18. The supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ, and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ.

"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, overthroweth the nature of a sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superst.i.tions.

"The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the supper, only after a heavenly and scriptural 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 ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.

"19. The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people; for both the parts of the Lord's supper, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be administered to all Christians alike.

"20. The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of ma.s.ses, in the which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.

"21. The ministers of Christ were not commanded by G.o.d's law either to vow the estate of single life, or to abstract 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 G.o.dliness.

"22. It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against G.o.d's word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the word of G.o.d, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.

"Every particular church may ordain, change, and abolish, rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.

"23. The president, the congress, the general a.s.semblies, the governors, and the councils of state, _as the delegates of the people_, are the rulers of the United States of America according to the division of power made to them by the Const.i.tution of the United States, and by the const.i.tutions of their respective states. And the said states are a sovereign and independent nation, and ought not to be subject to any foreign jurisdiction.(2)

"24. The riches and goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, t.i.tle, and possession, of the same, as some do falsely boast. Notwithstanding every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

"25. 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 requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth."

METHODISTS, OR THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

The Protestant Methodists adhere to the Wesleyan Methodist doctrines, but discard certain parts of the discipline, particularly those concerning episcopacy and the manner of const.i.tuting the general conference. They seceded from the _Methodist Episcopal Church_ in 1830, and formed a const.i.tution and discipline of their own.

The following preamble and articles precede the const.i.tution:-

"We, the representatives of the a.s.sociated Methodist churches, in general convention a.s.sembled, acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ as the only HEAD of the church, and the word of G.o.d as the sufficient rule of faith and practice, in all things pertaining to G.o.dliness, and being fully persuaded that the representative form of church government is the most scriptural, best suited to our condition, and most congenial with our views and feelings as fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of G.o.d; and whereas, a written const.i.tution, establishing the form of government, and securing to the ministers and members of the church their rights and privileges, is the best safeguard of Christian liberty. We, therefore, trusting in the protection of Almighty G.o.d, and acting in the name and by the authority of our const.i.tuents, do ordain and establish, and agree to be governed by, the following elementary principles and const.i.tution:-

"1. A Christian church is a society of believers in Jesus Christ, and is a divine inst.i.tution.

"2. Christ is the only Head of the church, and the word of G.o.d the only rule of faith and conduct.

"3. No person who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and obeys the gospel of G.o.d our Savior, ought to be deprived of church membership.

"4. Every man has an inalienable right to private judgment in matters of religion, and an equal right to express his opinion in any way which will not violate the laws of G.o.d, or the rights of his fellow-men.

"5. Church trials should be conducted on gospel principles only; and no minister or member should be excommunicated except for immorality, the propagation of unchristian doctrines, or for the neglect of duties enjoined by the word of G.o.d.

"6. The pastoral or ministerial office and duties are of divine appointment, and all elders in the church of G.o.d are equal; but ministers are forbidden to be lords over G.o.d's heritage, or to have dominion over the faith of the saints.

"7. The church has a right to form and enforce such rules and regulations only as are in accordance with the holy Scriptures, and may be necessary or have a tendency to carry into effect the great system of practical Christianity.

"8. Whatever power may be necessary to the formation of rules and regulations, is inherent in the ministers and members of the church; but so much of that power may be delegated, from time to time, upon a plan of representation, as they may judge necessary and proper.

"9. It is the duty of all ministers and members of the church, to maintain G.o.dliness, and to oppose all moral evil.

"10. It is obligatory on ministers of the gospel to be faithful in the discharge of their pastoral and ministerial duties, and it is also obligatory on the members to esteem ministers highly for their works' sake, and to render them a righteous compensation for their labors.

"11. The church ought to secure to all her official bodies the necessary authority for the purposes of good government; but she has no right to create any distinct or independent sovereignties."

We omit the const.i.tution, as the preceding elementary principles sufficiently develop the peculiarities of this denomination.

PROTESTANTS.

A name first given, in Germany, to those who adhered to the doctrine of Luther; because, in 1529, they protested against a decree of the emperor Charles V., and the diet of Spires, declaring that they appealed to a general council. The same name has also been given to the Calvinists, and is now become a common denomination for all sects which differ from the church of Rome.