I'm just posting this to emphasise aspects of the Anglican faith
It is lawful for Christian men, at the commandment of the Magistrate, to Definition of the Union of the Divine
and Human Natures in the Person of Christ
Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D., Act V
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one
and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in
manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one
substance (homoousios) with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of
one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as
regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood
begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer
(Theotokos); one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two
natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the
distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics
of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence,
not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten
God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him,
and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the Fathers has handed down
to us.
Quicunque Vult
commonly called
The Creed of Saint Athanasius
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory
equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost
incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and
one incomprehensible.
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by
himself to be both God and Lord,
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten,
but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three
Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be
worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the
Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the Substance
of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his
Manhood;
Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from
whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their
own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.
Preface
The First Book of Common Prayer (1549)
There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which
in continuance of time hath not been corrupted: as, among other things, it may plainly
appear by the common prayers in the Church, commonly called Divine Service: the first
original and ground whereof, if a man would search out by the ancient fathers, he shall find,
that the same was not ordained, but of a good purpose, and for a great advancement of
godliness. For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part
thereof) should be read over once in the year, intending thereby, that the Clergy, and
especially such as were Ministers of the congregation, should (by often reading, and
meditation of God's word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able to exhort
others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth. And
further, that the people (by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) should
continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with
the love of his true religion.
But these many years passed, this godly and decent order of the ancient fathers hath been so
altered, broken, and neglected, by planting in uncertain stories, Legends, Responds, Verses,
vain repetitions, Commemorations, and Synodals, that commonly when any book of the
Bible was begun, before three or four Chapters were read out, all the rest were unread. And
in this sort the book of Isaiah was begun in Advent, and the book of Genesis in
Septuagesima; but they were only begun, and never read through. After a like sort were
other books of holy Scripture used. And moreover, whereas St. Paul would have such
language spoken to the people in the Church, as they might understand, and have profit by
hearing the same, the Service in the Church of England (these many years) hath been read in
Latin to the people, which they understood not; so that they have heard with their ears
only; and their hearts, spirit, and mind, have not been edified thereby. And furthermore,
notwithstanding that the ancient fathers had divided the Psalms into seven portions,
whereof every one was called a nocturn, now of late time a few of them have been daily said
(and oft repeated), and the rest utterly omitted. Moreover, the number and hardness of the
Rules called the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause, that to turn
the Book only, was so hard and intricate a matter, that many times, there was more business
to find out what should be read, than to read it when it was found out.
These inconveniences therefore considered, here is set forth such an order, whereby the
same shall be redressed. And for a readiness in this matter, here is drawn out a Kalendar for
that purpose, which is plain and easy to be understood, wherein (so much as may be) the
reading of holy Scripture is so set forth, that all things shall be done in order, without
breaking one piece thereof from another. For this cause be cut off Anthems, Responds,
Invitatories, and such like things, as did break the continual course of the reading of the
Scripture.
Yet because there is no remedy, but that of necessity there must be some rules: therefore
certain rules are here set forth, which, as they be few in number; so they be plain and easy to
be understood. So that here you have an order for prayer (as touching the reading of the
holy Scripture), much agreeable to the mind and purpose of the old fathers, and a great deal
more profitable and commodious, than that which of late was used. It is more profitable,
because here are left out many things, whereof some be untrue, some uncertain, same vain
and superstitious: and is ordained nothing to be read, but the very pure word of God, the
holy Scriptures, or that which is evidently grounded upon the same; and that in such a
language and order as is most easy and plain for the understanding, both of the readers and
hearers. It is also more commodious, both for the shortness thereof, and for the plainness of
the order, and for that the rules be few and easy. Furthermore, by this order the curates shall
need none other books for their public service, but this book and the Bible: by the means
whereof, the people shall not be at so great charge for books, as in time past they have been.
And where heretofore, there hath been great diversity in saying and singing in churches
within this realm: some following Salisbury use, some Hereford use, some the use of
Bangor, some of York, and some of Lincoln: now from henceforth, all the whole realm shall
have but one use. And if any would judge this way more painful, because that all things
must be read upon the book, whereas before, by reason of so often repetition, they could
say many things by heart: if those men will weigh their labor with the profit in knowledge,
which daily they shall obtain by reading upon the book, they will not refuse the pain, in
consideration of the great profit that shall ensue thereof.
And forasmuch as nothing else, almost, be so plainly set forth, but doubts may arise in the
use and practicing of the same: to appease all such diversity (if any arise), and for the
resolution of all doubts, concerning the manner how to understand, do, and execute, the
things contained in this book: the parties that so doubt, or diversely take any thing, shall
always resort to the Bishop of the Diocese, who by his discretion shall take order for the
quieting and appeasing of the same; so that the same order be not contrary to any thing
contained in this book.
Though it be appointed in the afore written preface, that all things shall be read and sung in
the church in the English tongue, to the end that the congregation may be thereby edified:
yet it is not meant, but when men say Matins and Evensong privately, they may say the
same in any language that they themselves do understand. Neither that any man shall be
bound to the saying of them, but such as from time to time, in Cathedral and Collegiate
Churches, parish Churches, and Chapels to the same annexed, shall serve the congregation.
