NOTES ON THE TEXT OF ARTICLES XXXVIII. AND XXXIX. The Latin version of these Articles throws no new light upon the English. They are found in their present form in the formulary of Edward as well as that of Elizabeth. No direct source is suggested for these Articles. But the Augsburgh Confession, the Helvetic 2 and other foreign Reformed Confessions contain similar articles. The calumnies of their Roman opponents made the Reformed Churches very anxious to destroy any possible identification of themselves with the fanatical sects.3 OBSERVATIONS ON ARTICLES XXXVIII. AND XXXIX. For general consideration we take, together with these Articles, the two last clauses of the thirty-seventh. We have thus before us four allied subjects. 1. The lawfulness of capital punishment. 2. The lawfulness of military service. 3. That community of goods is not the Christian law. 4. That judicial oaths are lawful. The negative to these propositions was maintained by some of those fanatical sects who are grouped together under the name of Anabaptists. We may again refer the reader to Article VII., p. 62, for some account of these disturbing sects. And for further illustration we may quote Luther. 'They teach that the Christian must possess nothing, must take no oath, must hold no magistracy, must give effect to no judgment, must slay none, must not defend himself, must desert his wife and children, with other portentous precepts.' The same errors are copiously illustrated in the Parker Society's series.4 The notions combated in these Articles have been maintained at different periods of history by various obscure sects. The most prominent of those who, in modern times, have 1 xvi. de Rebus Civilibus. 6 2 xxx. de Magistratu. 3 See Jewel's Apology,' P. iii. C. ii. Div. 1. |