How must the private Christian ascertain these things?
Partly by his own observation, partly by the testimony of others, and in the first place that of the bishops and clergy of his own Church.
But if it should appear to him that his own Church ordains things repugnant to Holy Writ, or expounds Scripture so as to make one passage contradict another, or requires things not revealed in Scripture to be believed as Articles of faith, how must he act?
He must obtain better instruction, so far as God may place it in his power, to enable him to judge whether he is mistaken or not; and, if not mistaken, whether any other Church has better claims on his allegiance.
Article XXI.
[What is the subject of the twenty-first Article?[1]
"The Authority of General Councils."
What do you understand by general councils?
Councils composed of bishops assembled from all parts of the Church, and intended to act as representative bodies for the whole.
Have all general councils (so called) been strictly of this character?
- ↑ The twenty-flrst Article "is omitted" from the Articles of the Church in the United States, "because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining part of it, in other Articles."—Note to the Title, in the Articles of the P. E. Church. It is thought best to retain the explanation, as it treats of matters of some importance.
