Ellis on Article XXVI: Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacrament
John Ellis, 1700
Commentaries on Article XXVI: 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 26: text, context and Study
Article XXVI. Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacrament
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 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.
Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally being found guilty, by just judgement be deposed.
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. No body can give what he has mot : But wicked Ministers hav? not Grace and For grvencss of Sins ; and therefore they carinor effee ttually administer the Sacraments, whereby they arc obtained. |
Ansy. A minister does nor give Heavenly Gifts cfeually as rhe principal eficient Cause, bur as rhe instrumental one ; Now the Effet ought not to be like rhe Instrument, but the first Cause. Besides he docs not properly give the same G:frs, bur only the excernal Signs of them. Henee God 1s said ro circumcise the Hear:, Deur. 2. ©. And Cirist baptized with &ec Holy Gh:ft ; bur Foimn with Water, Mat.3.11.
Obj. 2. G-d aid t» he Wicked or Unzodly Min, Whar hast thou to do to dectarg my Sta- rites, or that rhou stouldest rake my Cove- nant in thy Mouth, seeing rthon hateft In- Aruction, and castest my Words b-chind chee ? P{al. 50, 16,17, - And jince God would not 5:0e |
| wicked: |
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Answ. This 5orn Psalm dees not speak pe- culiarly of Ministers, bur of the People of the Jews, whom God chastised, becaute they had his Law always in their Mouths, and were ve- ry frequent in their Sacrifices, and yer” lead wicked Lives ; and this sort of Weorttip it 18: thar is there spoken against. Bur if the Place be applied ro Ministers, it may be said, thar the Ministry of one that leads a wicked Life, is not acceptable ro God in respect ro the Person that administers, bur yer it may be efficacious and profitable in respect ro the Hearers.
Obj. 3. 4 Man that is overtaken in a Fault rs 79 be restored by the Spirit of Meekness, Gal]: 6. 1. Much more then ought a Minister in re [pef? to his Person ; therefore he ought not to be chastised and deposed.
Ansv. Wicked Ministers are to be often warned ; butif they will nor ar all obey thete Acmonitions, they may, and oughr then to be depoled. |
ART. XXVII. Of Bapti/m:.
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