Daily Gleaning - Voluntary Works

In today's Morning Prayer, we (in our gathering) took a break from the usual Creed to read instead from the 39 Articles. That's right, it's not un-Anglican to be flexible to this degree, especially since we believe the Articles bear authority for Anglicans. Here is what we read:

"XIV. Of Works of Supererogation. VOLUNTARY works besides, over and above, God's commandments which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for His sake than of bounden duty is required: Whereas Christ saith plainly, When ye have done all that are commanded to do, say, We be unprofitable servants."

In other words, we do NOT believe that our good works secure for us any superior rights in the Church or even in the kingdom of Heaven. It is simply enough that Christ should save us for Eternity and give us our "daily bread" while we are here.

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This is the first in what is hoped to be a regular series of "gleanings" from either Morning or Evening Prayer.