Madan on Article XXXIV: Of the Traditions of the Church

Martin Madan, 1772

Commentaries on Article XXXIV: 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 34: text, context and Study

Article XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church
It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, and utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversities of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever through his private judgement, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.
Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, ceremonies or rites of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying.
Text: Book of Common Prayer (1662)

Cleaned OCR; [...] marks passages cut for illegibility. See the scan. Text: A Scriptural Comment upon the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, by M. Madan (London, 1772): each Article with the Scripture proofs and notes. Cleaned OCR from the Internet Archive scan of the Eighteenth Century Collections copy; the scan is poor, and passages too garbled to recover are marked [...]. Public domain.

[ 58 ] Ok the Traditions of the Church.

F 4 T is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies le in all Places one, or utterly like ;, far at all Times they have been divers, and may be changed according 10

the Diversity of Countries, Times, Mens Manners,

fo that nothing be ordained against C, I od.

WVhesoever, through his private Fadgment, willingly and purposely doth apenly break the Traditions and Cere— monies of the Church, which be not repugnant ts the Mord ef God, and be ordained and approved of tom- mon Authority, * ought ta be rebuked openiy, (that other may fear to do the like) as he that oFfendeth again/I the common * Order of the Church, and * hurteth the Authority of the Magistrate, and 5 woundeth the Con- sciences of weak Brethren, — Every particular or na- tional Church hath Authority to ordain, change, and abalish Ceremanies or Rites of the Church, ordained only by Man’s Authority, “so * that all Things be done to edifying,
Heb. xiii. 17, Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves,

1 Tim. v. 20. Them that fin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Thef. v. 14. Warn them that are unruly, Marg. Disorderly.

Cal. ii. 5. For though I be absent in the Flesh, yet ami with you in the Spirit, joying and behold- ing your Order, 2 Thef/. iii. 6. Now we command you, Brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every Brother which walketh disorderly, and not after

the Tradition which ye received of us. * 1 Pet.

ON Þ oa ho. ns

be? D

JW.

[ 59 ]

4 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every Ordi- nance of Man for the Lord’s Sake, Oc.

5 1 Cor. viii. 16. When ye fin so against the Brethren, and wound their weak Consciences, ye sin 7 Christ.

5 Rom. xiv. 12. Let us therefore follow after the Things which make for Peace, and Things where with one may edify another,

ART-1Ck E U. Ok Homilies,

Read at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_a-scriptural-comment-upo_church-of-england_1772