The ThirtyNine Articles: 35, Homilies book 2

This is going to be surprisingly short.  The reason is that I think these are so good, and so lost to the Anglican laity, that they need to be brought out of mothballs and read.  I’m going to do both books of Homilies as series after the current series on the 39 Articles.  There will be a substantial requirement to translate out of Old English which will require time, but I believe this to be worth the time.  In areas where pietism seems to be running rampant, I’ll be sure to blow the whistle.  But the fact that I am a cradle Episcopalian and had never heard of either the 39 Articles until 7 years ago and the Homilies until last week, requires, no demands, that they be investigated.  The depth and riches of our Anglican heritage is nearly lost.  We need to understand our Reformation roots and reevaluate our current direction.

Below is Article 35 concerning the second book of Homilies.  Take a look at the titles.

XXXV. Of Homilies.

The second book of Homilies, the several titles whereof we have joined under this article, does contain a godly and wholesome doctrine, and necessary for these times, as does the former book of Homilies, which were set forth in the time of Edward the sixth: and therefore we judge them to be read in Churches by the Ministers diligently, and distinctly, that they may be understood of the people. 

Of the names of the Homilies. 

1 Of the right use of the Church.
2 Against peril of Idolatry.
3 Of repairing and keeping clean of Churches.
4 Of good works, first of fasting.
5 Against gluttony and drunkenness.
6 Against excess of apparel.
7 Of prayer.
8 Of the place and time of prayer.
9 That common prayers and Sacraments ought to be ministered in a known tongue.
10 of the reverent estimation of God’s word,
11 of alms doing.
12 of the Nativity of Christ.
13 of the passion of Christ.
14 of the resurrection of Christ.
15 of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ.
16 of the gifts of the holy ghost.
17 For the Rogation days.
18 of the state of Matrimony.
19 of repentance.
20 Against Idleness.
21 Against rebellion. 

There is a mixture of piety issues and doctrine that contains some juicy topics and some rather obscure topics.  With current climates in the Episcopal Church USA, one wonders whether there are bishops who are aware of Homily 18.  With Holy Week about to start, it will be fun to read 13-16 from book two as well as 3-6 and 8-10 from book one.  There are some words I’ll need to learn like Rogation.  Passion is used in the same manner as the Roman Catholics in reference to the Stations of the Cross.  In all, this will make a good series.

Therefore, nothing more about the Homilies now, except that it is interesting how these 39 Articles are exploded into so much more information with these hidden Homilies.  It’s one of those documents where the Appendices are far larger than the actual document.

The next to last post on the 39 Articles will be about the last group.  The last post will be a summary of the 39 Articles, putting them into the context of the current state of the Anglican Church.  I hope to engage some Anglican clergy in this discussion at that point.

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