Welchman on Article XXXIV: Of the Traditions of the Church

Rites and Ceremonies are Matters indifferent in Them- selves; but when they are established by the Authority of the Church, they ought to be observed by All, upon the Account of the Reverence due to that Authority, which is

derived from God; who hath commanded us to obey Them Hel. xi. 1.

that have the Rule over us, and to submit oursckves, He who doth otherwise is a Schismatick.—See Rom. xiv. 17. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteousness, and Peace, and Fay in the Holy Ghojt,

5 See

Par. 466.

fore All, that others also may fear.

NoTEs on the XXXIX Articles

See allo Irenæus, who in his Account of the Dispute be- tween Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, concerning the Observation of Easter, hath these Words: „“ St. Polycarp being at Rome with Anicetus, and & they having had tome little Controversy with each other & about other Things, presently composed the Difference, ce and shewed themselves allo to be no Lovers of Strife % upon that particular Head. For neither could Anicetus e persuade Po/ycarp to de sist from observing Easter, accord- ing as he had always observed it with St. Jchn, the Dis- ciple of our Lord, and with the rest of the Apostles, with whom he had been conversant ; nor could Polycarp persuade Anicetus to observe it otherwise, than, as he said, it was his Duty to do, according to the Custom of the „ Elders who were before him. This being the Case be- „ tween them, they notwithstanding communicated with each other.“

Aay fear] See 1 Tim. v. 20. Them that fin, rebuke be-

Ofendeth azainst the common Order, &c.] See 1 Cor. xi. 16. If any Aan seem to be contentious, we have no such Cuftem, neither the Churches of God. And 1 Cor. xiv. 40. Let all Things be done decently, and in Order.

Hurteth the Authority, &c.] Sce Rom. xiii. 1. Let every

[…]

WWourdeth the Conscience of the Teak] Namely, by leading Them into Sin by their own bad Example. Sce 1 Cor. viii. 12. When ye Sin fo against the Brethren, and wound their weak Conscience, ye fin against Christ.

Every Particular or National, &c.] For such Churches are equal in Authority, so that they have no Power over each other: But Christ is the King and Lord of them all: And therefore in such Things as He hath neither com- manded nor forbidden, every Church may use its own Liberty, as Occasion shall require, |

Sec Preface to the Common Prayer. Hoeeker’s Eccl. Pol. B. III. and IV. Sect. 13. Mhitgift’s Def. Tract. 2. Prideaux’s Fasc. Contr. C. 4. Sect. 3. Q. 5. Burscough of Schism, Se. 4, 6.

Be done to edifying] See Rom. xiv. 19. Let us therefore follzw after the Things which make for Peace, and Things wherewith one may edify another.

of the Church of ENGLAnD.