APPENDIX II

A COMPARISON OF THE BISHOPS' BOOK (1537) AND THE KING'S BOOK (1543).

[The references are to " Formularies of Faith," Oxford, 1825.]

BISHOPS' BOOK.

KING'S BOOK.

CONTENTS.

CONTENTS.

1. Exposition of the Creed called The Declaration of Faith.

BISHOPS' BOOK.

KING'S BOOK.

THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS.

(These are not treated in the same order in the two books.)

Infant Baptism is treated more fully here (pp. 254, 255).

In both books it is laid down that the Sacrament of Penance is necessary to salvation for those who have committed deadly sin after Baptism (p. 96).

(p. 257).

Confession to a priest is rather more enlarged upon, while the necessity of faith in the penitent is also strongly insisted upon (p. 258).

In both books the real corporal presence of Christ's Body in the Eucharist is asserted.

The proper use of Images is explained in both books (Second Commandment).

(pp. 135, 136.)

(pp. 299, 300.)

In both books it is declared that to pray direct to the Saints for benefits is to give to the creature the honour due to God only; but we may ask that the intercessions of the Saints be joined to our own (Third Commandment).

(p. 141.)

(pp. 304, 305.)

In both books also the dedication of churches and altars as memorials of the Saints is guarded from superstitious abuse (Third Commandment). (p. 305.)

(pp. 141, 142.)

In both books the Fourth Commandment is treated as figurative of sanctification of life; people are warned about being over-scrupulous with regard to abstaining from labour on Sunday. Sprinkling of holy water,

KING'S BOOK.

BISHOPS' BOOK. giving of holy bread, bearing candles at Candlemas, giving ashes on AshWednesday, bearing palms on Palm-Sunday, creeping to the Cross on Good Friday, setting up the Sepulchre of Christ, &c., are defended as edifying ceremonies.

In both books this is shown not to be a prayer, but a hymn of praise and thanks (1) to our Lord and Saviour, (2) to the B.V.M. also, for that the Incarnation took place by her consent.

(p. 208.)

(p. 358.)

THE ARTICLE OF FREE WILL.

Free will is thus defined: :"In all men a certain power of the will joined with reason, whereby a reasonable creature without constraint in things of reason, discerneth and willeth good and evil : but it willeth not that good which is acceptable to God except it be holpen with grace" (p. 359).

BISHOPS' BOOK.

KING'S BOOK.

THE ARTICLE OF JUSTIFICATION. Christ's merits are the only sufficient and worthy cause, Faith is necessary on our part, and we, being justified, be necessarily bound to do good works.

(p. 209.)

THE ARTICLE OF PURGATORY.

Justification is defined as "the making of us righteous afore God." God is the principal cause, but man "shall also walk in such works as be requisite to his justification." The effects of Christ's works are appropriated by faith, repentance, baptism, and penance.

(p. 365, 366.)

THE ARTICLE OF GOOD WORKS.

Two kinds are distinguished-(i.) fruits of righteousness, which are meritorious towards the attaining of everlasting life; and (ii.) works of penance, by means of which men do enter into justification (p. 371).

OF PRAYER FOR SOULS DEPARTED.

In both books the locality and name of Purgatory, and the kind of pains endured by souls. departed, are declared uncertain. Abuses advanced under the name of Purgatory are to be put away. Prayers, masses, and alms for the departed are defended.