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.

[This article is received in this church, so far as it declares the books of Homilies to be an explication of Christian doctrine, and instructive in piety and morals. But all references to the constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable to the circumstances of this church, which also suspends the order for the reading of said Homilies in churches until a revision of them may be conveniently made, for the clearing of them, as well from obsolete. words and phrases, as from the local references.]

Art. XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bishops and Ministers. THE book of consecration of bishops, and ordering of priests and deacons, as set forth by the General Convention of this church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordering; neither hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodly: and, therefore, whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to said form, we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered.

Art. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil Magistrates.

THE power of the civil magistrate extendeth to all men, as well clergy as laity, in all things temporal; but hath no authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay respectful obedience to the civil authority, regularly and legitimately constituted.

Art. XXXVIII. Of Christian Men's Goods, which are not common. THE riches and goods of Christians are not common, as touching the right, title, and possession of the same, as certain anabaptists do falsely boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of such things as he possesseth, liberally to give alms to the poor, according to his ability.

Art. XXXIX. Of a Christian Man's Oath.

As we confess that vain and rash swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his apostle: so we judge that Christian religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the prophet's teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth.

CANONS

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

IN THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

BEING THE

SUBSTANCE OF VARIOUS CANONS ADOPTED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS OF SAID CHURCH, (FROM A. D. 1789, TO A. D. 1832,) AND SET FORTH, WITH ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS, IN GENERAL CONVENTION, A. D. 1832;

ALSO,

THE CANONS PASSED IN GENERAL CONVENTIONS, A. D. 1835, 1838, AND 1841.

TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED, THE

CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH,

AND THE

COURSE OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES, ESTABLISHED BY THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS,

IN THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF 1804.

51*

PREFATORY NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER.

THIS edition of the Constitution and Canons of the Church in the United States will be found, it is confidently believed, more correct than any other ever published. Great pains have been taken to make it accurate, by a diligent examination of former editions, and a careful reference to the Journals of the General Convention. Nearly one hundred clerical and typographical errors have been detected and amended. Such only has the publisher felt authorized to touch. Yet there are in the Canons themselves some manifest inaccuracies which do not come under these heads; but which, nevertheless, required notice. These have been pointed out in a few notes by the Rev. HENRY W. DUCACHET, D. D., a presbyter of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, who has prepared the copy of this edition for the press, and corrected the proof sheets. It is hoped that this copy can claim the merit of being nearly perfect.