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The Faith, Doctrine, and Religion, Professed, and Protected in the Realm of England, Expressed in Thirty-Nine Articles

Paragraph 38.1

On Thirty-Nine Articles (1571) 38.1

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Of Christian mens goods, which are not common

The riches, and goodnes of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certaine Anabaptists doe falsely boast. Notwithstanding euery man ought of such things as he possesseth, liberally to giue almes to the poore according to his abilitie.

The Propositions.

1, The riches, and goods, of Christians, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, are not common.

2. Euery man is to giue liberall almes to the poore, of that which he possesseth, according to his abilitie.

1. Proposition. The riches, and goods of Christians, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, are not common.

The proofe from Gods word.

Against communitie of goods, and riches, be all those places (which are infinite) of holy Scripture, that either condemne the vnlawfull getting, keeping, or desiring of riches, which by Couetousnesse,a* Theeuerie,b† Extortion,c‡ and the like wicked meanes many doe attaine; or doe commend, Liberalitie,d4 Frugalitie,e5 free and freindly Lendingf6 honest labour,g7 and lawfull vocations to liue, and thriue by.h8 All which doe shewe, that Christians are to haue goods of their owne, and that riches ought not to be common,

Of this iudgement be the reformed Churches.9

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Of another mind were the Esseis,10 the Manichies,11 the Pelagiās,12 the Apostolikes,13 and Fratricellians,14 and are the Anabaptists,15 and Familie of Loue.16

Amōg the Famists (saith H.N.) none claimeth any thing proper to himselfe for to possesse the same to any owednes, or priuatenesse. For no man, &c. can desire to appropriate, or challenge any thing to himselfe, either yet to make any priuate vse vnto himselfe from the rest ward, but what is there, is Free, and is also left free in his vpright forme.17

2. Proposition. Euery man is to giue liberall Almes to the poore of that which hee possesseth, according to his abilitie.

The proofe from Gods word.

Vnto liberality towards the poore, according to our ability, we are in the holy Scriptures prouoked.

1. By the commandements, from God, by his seruants the Prophets,i by his Sonne, our Sauiour,j and by his Apostles.k

2. By sweete promises of ample blessings.l18

3. By threatnings of punishments to the couetous, and stonie hearted.m19

4. By the examples of the best men, viz. the apostles, and primitiue Church.n

So the Churches.20

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Of strange mindes therefore, and impious are

First the Anabaptists, which would haue no man either to giue, or receiue. For all things in their opinion, should be common (as afore also hath bin said), and none among them be either poore to receiue or wealthie to minister any almes.21

Secondly the hypocriticall Sectaries, who are bountiful onely to those which side with them. Such were first the publicans in our Sauiour his daies,o and after them the Manichies, who would minister neither bread, nor water vnto any hungry, and pyning beggar, vnlesse he were a Manichean.22

And such are the Familie of Loue; who say they are not bound to giue almes but to their owne sect: and if they doe, they giue the fame to the deuill.23

Notes

  1. *If any one that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or couetous &c. with such one eate not. Couetousnes let it not be once named among you, as it becommeth Saints. Ephes. 5.3.
  2. †Let none of you suffer as a Theefe, &c. 1. Pet. 4.15.
  3. ‡With a brother that is an Extortioner, eate not, 1. Cor. 5.11. Neither theeues, nor Couetous (persons), not Extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God. 1. Cor. 6.10.
  4. 4It is a blessed thing to Giue, rather then to receiue. Acts 20.35. yea, and that thing ye doe vnto all the Brethren throughout all Macedonia 1. Thes 4.10. If a brother, or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food &c. notwithstanding yee Giue them not these things which are needefull to the body what helpeth it? James 2.15.16.
  5. 5If there be any that prouideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his houshold, hee denieth the forth, and is worse then an Infidell, 1. Tim. 5.8.
  6. 6From him that would borrow of thee, turne not away, Matth. 5.42. And lend, looking for nothing againe. Luke 6.35.
  7. 7Let him that stole steale no more, but rather let him labour, &c. that hee may haue to giue vnto him that needeth. Eph. 4.28. We warned you, that if there were any which would not worke▪ that he should not eate. 2. Thes. 3.8.
  8. 8Yee knowe that these hands haue ministred vnto my necessities, and to them that were with mee, Acts 20, 34. wee laboured day and night, because wee would not be chargeable vnto any of you. 1. Thes. 2.9. Wee tooke not bread of any man for nought, &c. 2. Thes 3.8.
  9. 9Confess Helv. 3. c. 29. Gal ar 40. Belg. ar. 36. Aug. ar. 16. Wittemb. c. 21.
  10. 10Heyden. 〈◊〉. vrbis Hierosolym. l. 3. c. 3.
  11. 11D. Aug. de mor. eccles. Cal. l. 1.
  12. 12Magdeb. eccles. hist. Cen. 5. fol. 586.
  13. 13D. Humfre de Romanae curiae praxi. p. 39. ex. Epiphan.
  14. 14W. Tho. desc. of Italy. p. 59.
  15. 15Sleidan. com. l. 6.
  16. 16Display. H. 3. b.
  17. 17H.N. Spir. land. c. 35. §. 34.
  18. 18Eccles. 11.1. The liberall person shall. haue plentie: and he that wateresh, shall also haue raine. Prou. 11.24.
  19. 19He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, hee shall crie, and not be heard. Prou. 21.13. He that giueth vnto the poore, shall not lacke; but hee that hideth his eies, (shall haue) manie curses. Prou. 28.27.
  20. 20Conf. Helv. 2. c. 23.28.29. Sax. ar. 21. Wittemb. c. 18.
  21. 21Bale myst. of Iniqu. p. 53.
  22. 22Homini mendico esurienti. nisi Manichaeus, sit panem aut aquam non porrigunt▪ Manich. D. Au. de mor. Manic. l. 2.
  23. 23Displ. H. 7. b.

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aEphesians 5:3
  2. b1 Peter 4:15
  3. c1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10
  4. dActs 20:35; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; James 2:15–16
  5. e1 Timothy 5:8
  6. fMatthew 5:42; Luke 6:35
  7. gEphesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:8
  8. hActs 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8
  9. iDeuteronomy 15:11; Proverbs 5:15–16
  10. jMatthew 5:42; Luke 6:30
  11. kRomans 12:13; 1 Corinthians 16:2
  12. lEcclesiastes 11:1; Proverbs 11:24
  13. mProverbs 21:13; 28:27
  14. nActs 11:29–30; Romans 15:25; 2 Corinthians 8:1–3; 9:2
  15. oMatthew 5:46–47

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