Boultbee on Article XVIII: Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ

The copulative particle also involves some Httle gramma- tical difficulty. But it seems to connect this Article with the Sixteenth. The text remains scarcely varied from the Forty- two Articles.

The Article consists of a proposition which is condemned, to which is added a clause indicating the reason of that condemnation, and the Scripture ground on which it is based. Hence the mode of dealing with this Article by Scripture proof will be manifest.

Observations on Abticle XVIU.

This Article is not in debate between ourselves and any section of the Christian Church. Latitudinarians may call it in question ; but no sect can deny it which believes in the eflScacy of the death of Christ.

It is manifest that the Article had in view some un- believers of the age of the Eeformation. That this was so appears from the contemporary * Eeformatio Legum ’ ( ch. xi.) : — ’ Horrible and vain is the audacity of those who contend that men may hope for salvation in every religion and sect which they may profess.’

The subject of the possibility of salvation for a heathen is generally noticed under this Article. Most of the com- mentators seem to agree that the Article does not absolutely pronounce upon that point. It asserts that none can be saved but by Christ. But it is silent on the question which was touched upon with some degree of hope by some of the early Fathers, how fer it may be conceivable that some who have never heard of Christ may be saved hy Him, The first two chapters of the Epistle to the Eomans will naturally be referred to on this subject. The ’ Judge of all the earth ’ has himself assured us that there will be discrimination at the last between the ignorant and the enlightened sinner. He tells us that eternal justice will not involve all in one indis- criminate ruin. *That servant, which kneio his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew noty and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.’ Consistently with that absence of detail and circumstantiality which it has been the will of God should characterise all revelations of the . course of His final justice, what more distinct utterance could we have ? We may add, what further revelation are we entitled even to desire ?

Paet IV.

19. OF THE CHUECH.

20. OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH.