Ellis on Article XIV: Of Works of Supererogation
John Ellis, 1700
Commentaries on Article XIV: Rogers (1607)Ellis (1660)Burnet (1699)Beveridge (d. 1708)Welchman (1713)Practical Exposition (1716)Veneer (1725)Madan (1772)Hey (1796)Tomline (1799)Wilson (1821)Jones (1849)Trollope (1850)Browne (1850)Forbes (1867)Boultbee (1871)Maclear & Williams (1895)Green (1896)Gibson (1896)Jackson (1900)Bicknell (1919) · Article 14: text, context and Study
Article XIV. Of Works of Supererogation
Voluntary Works besides, over, and above, God's Commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety: for by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his sake, than of bounden duty is required: whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to you, say, We are unprofitable servants.
Text: Book of Common Prayer (1662)
Cleaned OCR; [...] marks passages cut for illegibility. See the scan. Text: A Defense of the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England, written in Latin by J. Ellis, S.T.D. (Articulorum XXXIX Ecclesiae Anglicanae Defensio, first published 1660), now done into English (London, 1700). Cleaned OCR from the Internet Archive scan of the Early English Books copy; passages too garbled to recover are marked [...]. Public domain.
Obj. 1. Chr;P? said tn a certain young Mn, Mar. 19. 21. Jt choa wilt be perfect, fell all that rhou hast,.ard give to the Poor : This was Counsel that did not indeed oblige all Men ; but if 1t were put in prattice, twould procure 4 mire excrtlent degree of Gloys Anfrw.,
Thirty Nine Articles, 235 © Answ. This was a particular Precept given to this young Man ; and what is here com- - manded, that every one is obliged to perform, if the Necefliry of his Brethren require ir, which allo was practised by rhe Primitive Christians. Afirmative Preceprs, alchongh rhey always oblige, yer not in all Conditions fim- -ply considered ; but on Supposition there be found requistre Circumstances. | Obj. 2. The Apostle tells us, 1 Cor. 7. 25. Concerning Virgins, I have nocommand ; yer I give my Advice, which whosoever follows, will do more than is absolutely neceffary. Answ. We cannor gather from hence, that there 1s any thing more perfect than the Ob- servation of God’s Commands, or indeed con- ducing to crernal Life. Neither does this O- pinion of Sr. Paul respect all rimes, bur only thar present Neceflity, whilst the Church was under Pcriecation : And then, be it the A- poltle’s Council, that Virginity is to be pre- terred ro Marrimony ; this is directed ro none bur those ro whom God has given the Gift ; in which Case this Counsel becomes a Precepr - to thole who: have the peculiar Gifr of Contt= - nence. There are indeed many Counlels con- cerning indifferent things ; but we reject such as ascribea merirorious and greater Power ro things purely arbitrary, than roche Commands of God. - | Obj. 3. Se. Paul, 1 Cor. 9. 15. boasts of his IVorks of Supererogation, because be had preached the Gospel freely, which was not necessary for him to do. Answ, Sr. Paul preached the Gospel freely, that he might give no occasion of _ a
26 A Defence of the false Apostles, as if he rook upon him that” Office for the fake of Gain. The avoiding of Scandal is not then a Work of Supererogarion, bur every ones Duty ; for woe 70 him vy whom an Offence cometh, Mat. 18. 7.
ART. XV. Of Christ alone without Sin:
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