Friday, October 03, 2008

Connecting the dots between Article 26 of "The 39 Articles of Religion" (1562) and 1980



Article XXVI: Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers...

"Although in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister 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 Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men."

(note: Thank you Cliff Swartz for this amazing nugget!)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that this is the most concrete possible embodiment of Article 26 in its very fullest, and most natural, expression.

L.R.E. Larkin said...

absolutely fantastic...I can't look away...