128 THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS 



far as it has been officially expressed, is to be dis- 

 covered in the Book of Common Prayer and in the 

 Articles of Religion. We shall not find in these docu- 

 ments any full or separate description of man's original 

 condition; but when it is declared in the ninth Article 

 that ''man is far gone from original righteousness," 

 there is a clear implication that righteousness was 

 included in that condition; and the undeveloped nature 

 of original righteousness is indicated when, in the 

 opening words of the Marriage Office, Holy Matri- 

 mony is said to have been instituted "in the time of 

 man's innocency." For any further knowledge of 

 Anglican teaching as to man's primitive state we must 

 study those authors who appear to be in most complete 

 accord with Anglican doctrine at large. In such study 

 we must remember that the American Church declares 

 herself to be "far from intending to depart from the 

 Church of England in any essential point of doctrine;" ^ 

 and therefore, as is also implied in one of the prayers 

 at the close of the Office for Visitation of the Sick, 

 seeks to adhere to "the communion of the Catholic 

 Church;" and to include in her necessary doctrine, as 

 required by the canon adopted by Convocation in 

 1 57 1, what "the catholic fathers and ancient Bishops 

 have collected" out of Holy Scripture.^ 



^ Preface of The Book of Common Prayer. 



2 " Imprimis vero videbunt, ne quid unquam doceant pro concione, 

 quod a populo religiose teneri et credi velint, nisi quod consentaneum 

 fit doctrinae Veteris aut Novi Testamenti, quodque ex ilia ipsa doc- 

 trina catholici patres, et veteres episcopi coUegerini." Concilia Mag- 

 nae Brit, et Hibern., Vol. IV. p. 267. 



