It  seems  to  be  properly  said  that  the  received  formularies  cannot  be
held  to  be  evidence  of  faith  or  of  doctrine,  without  reference  to  the
distinct  declarations  of  doctrine  in  the  Articles,  and  to  the  faith,  hope,
and  charity  by  which  they  profess  to  be  inspired  or  accompanied ;  and


11

there  an-  portions  of  the  Liturgy  which  it  is  plain  cannot  be  construed
truly  without  regard  to  these  considerations. For  the  proof  of  this,
the  instance  which  seems  to  be  most  usually  cited,  and  which  is  con-
clusive, is  the  Service  for  the  Burial  of  the  Dead. So  far  as  our
knowledge  or  powers  of  conception  extend,  there  are,  and  must  be,  at
least  some  persons  not  excommunicated  from  the  Church,  who,  having
lived  HM  s  of  sin. 