Because man can
err, the church was not to ordain or enforce anything to be
believed for necessity of salvation. Explicitly renounced were the
Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, worshipping,
adoration of images or reliques, invocation of saints, and the use
in church of any language, such as Latin, not understood by the
people. Only the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were
recognized. The Lord's Supper was to be a sign of the love that
Christians ought to have among themselves and a sacrament of
redemption by Christ's death. The wine in the cup of blessing as
well as the bread of the Lord's Supper was to be taken by lay-
people and to be a partaking of Christ; there was no Romish mass.
Excommunication was limited to those who openly denounced the
church. Anyone openly breaking the traditions or ceremonies of the
church which were approved by common authority were to be rebuked.
Elizabeth told the bishops that she wished certain homilies to be
read in church, which encouraged good works such as fasting,
prayer, alms-giving, Christian behavior, repentance, and against
idolatry, gluttony, drunkenness, excess of apparel, idleness, and
rebellion. These she considered more instructive and learned that
ministers' sermons, which were often influenced by various
gentlemen and were inconsistent with each other. Consecration of
bishops and ministers was regulated; and they were allowed to
marry.
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