and import Christianity gives to every fact of your national history--to
every page of your sacred records!


[Footnote 1: See Horne in loc. note.--Ed.]



ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

XX.

It is mournful to think how many recent writers have criminated our
Church in consequence of their own ignorance and inadvertence in not
knowing, or not noticing, the contra-distinction here meant between
power and authority. Rites and ceremonies the Church may ordain 'jure
proprio': on matters of faith her judgment is to be received with
reverence, and not gainsaid but after repeated inquiries, and on weighty
grounds.

XXXVII.

It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the magistrate,
to wear weapons, and to serve in the wars.

This is a very good instance of an unseemly matter neatly wrapped up.
The good men recoiled from the plain words:

'It is lawful for Christian men at the command of a king to slaughter
as many Christians as they can!'