The history of the reformation of the Church of England. The first part of the progess made in it during the reign of K. Henry the VIII / by Gilbert Burnet.

XXIX. The Articles acknowledged by Shaxton, late Bp of Sarum.

THe First; Almighty God, by the Power of his Word, pronounced by the Priest at Mass in the Consecration, turneth the Bread and Wine into the natural Body and Blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ; so that after the Consecration, there remaineth no Substance of Bread and Wine, but only the substance of Christ, God and Man.

The Second; The said Blessed Sacrament being once Consecrate, is and remaineth still the very Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, al∣though it be reserved, and not presently distributed.

The Third; The same blessed Sacrament being consecrate, is and ought to be worshipped and adored with godly honour wheresoever it is, forasmuch as it is the Body of Christ inseparably united to the Deity.

The Fourth; The Church, by the Ministration of the Priest, offer∣eth daily at the Mass for a Sacrifice to Almighty God, the self-same Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, under the form of Bread and Wine, in the remembrance and representation of Christ's Death and Passion.

The Fifth; The same Body and Blood which is offered in the Mass, is the very propitiation and satisfaction for the sins of the World; for∣asmuch as it is the self-same in Substance which was offered upon the Cross for our Redemption: And the Oblation and Action of the Priest is also a Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving unto God for his Bene∣fits,

and not the satisfaction for the Sins of the World, for that is only to be attributed to Christ's Passion.

The Sixth; The said Oblation, or Sacrifice, so by the Priest offered in the Mass, is available and profitable, both for the Quick and the Dead, altho it lieth not in the power of Man to limit how much, or in what measure the same doth avail.

The Seventh; It is not a thing of necessity, that the Sacrament of the Altar should be ministred unto the People under both kinds, of Bread and Wine: and it is none abuse that the same be ministred to the People under the one kind; forasmuch as in every of both the kinds, whole Christ, both Body and Blood is contained.

The Eighth; It is no derogation to the vertue of the Mass, altho the Priest do receive the Sacrament alone, and none other receive it with him.

The Ninth; The Mass used in this Realm of England, is agreeable to the institution of Christ; and we have in this Church of England, the very true Sacrament, which is the very Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ, under the form of Bread and Wine.

The Tenth; The Church of Christ hath, doth, and may lawfully order some Priests to be Ministers of the Sacraments, altho the same do not preach, nor be not admitted thereunto.

The Eleventh; Priests being once dedicated unto God by the Order of Priesthood, and all such Men and Women as have advisedly made Vows unto God of Chastity or Widowhood, may not lawfully marry, after their said Orders received, or Vows made.

The Twelfth; Secret auricular Confession is expedient and necessary to be retained, continued, and frequented in the Church of Christ.

The Thirteenth; The Prescience and Predestination of Almighty God, altho in it self it be infallible, induceth no necessity to the Action of Man, but that he may freely use the power of his own will or choice, the said Prescience or Predestination notwithstanding.

I Nicholas Shaxton, with my Heart, do believe, and with my Mouth do confess all these Articles above-written to be true in every part.

Ne despicias hominem avertentem se a peccato, neque im∣properes ei: memento quoniam omnes in corruptione sumus,

Eccles. 8.

Notes

• Regist. Bonner. Fol. 100.