Thirty-Nine Articles (Thomas): Article 19, "Of the Church" (265ff.)

Article 19 of the Church of England was aimed at distinguishing itself from Rome. In 1563, Bishop Jewel's "Homily for Whitsunday" took a firm anti-Roman stance, emphasizing that an individual's connection to Jesus Christ comes through Trinitarian operations, election, predestination, and other aspects of redemption. The Church has its roots in Paradise and Divine operations and is known by various names such as Ecclesia, Assembly, Kirk, Kerken, and more. The process of individual conversion leads to the emergence of corporate and social elements, thus rejecting the notion of "individualistic Christianity." The gathering or assembly is expressed through the community, and the Church has local, regional, and universal usages, and it is described as both "visible" and "invisible." According to Nowell's Catechism, the Church is the "universal society of all the faithful predestined by God from eternity to everlasting life," which has significant theological and spiritual implications. The definition of the Church is influenced by various traditions, including the Pauline, Gottschalkian, Wycliffian, and the Reformed Confessional. Alexander Nowell, who shared religious beliefs similar to John Calvin's teachings, fled for his life due to these beliefs. Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the total depravity of humanity, and the doctrine of predestination, among other vital doctrines. Therefore, it can be inferred that Nowell firmly believed in these principles. Rome prioritizes and gives antecedence to the institution, while the Bible prioritizes the elect and wheat, which is mixed with tares. The stress is on the spiritual aspect, not the institutional or organizational. As Calvin noted, when a Church is talking more about itself, it’s moving in the wrong direction.