clause or condition of a contract, treaty, &c. It is also a small part or division of a discourse, book, or writing, &c.

Articles of Death, the last pangs or agony of one just expiring.

grammar. See there n° 61.

Articles of Religion, in the church of England. In the beginnings of Christianity, the declaration that was required of a Christian's faith was conceived in very general terms; but, as heresies sprung up, it was found necessary to guard against them, by enlarging the creeds or confessions of faith. It was in imitation of this procedure that the reformers were so copious in stating the doctrines of the church of England in that work which is intitled, "Articles whereupon it was agreed by Archbishops and Bishops of both provinces, and the whole Clergie, in the convocation holden at London, in the year of our Lord God 1562, according to the computation of the Church of England, for the avoiding of the diversities of opinions, and for the establishing of consent touching true religion." There were two particular circumstances in that time which made this seem to be the more necessary: the one was, that there sprung up, together with the reformation, many impious and extravagant sects; the other, that, having but just got rid of Popery, it was absolutely necessary to take the utmost precautions against it for the future. These articles were prepared, as is most probable, by the bishops Cranmer and Ridley; and were published by royal authority. The most authentic manuscript of them is in the library of Corpus Christi college in Cambridge. It belonged to Archbishop Parker, and was left by him to that college.

The subscription to these articles is enjoined by statute, which establishes them, and requires every clergyman to declare his assent, and subscribe them in the presence of his ordinary. The form of the subscription is not prescribed by the statute; but by the canon it is expressly required, that he acknowledge them, and every one of them, to be agreeable to the word of God. There is a clause in the statute, which subjects every minister, who maintains any doctrine repugnant to these articles, to deprivation.

ARTICULATE sounds are such sounds as express the letters, syllables, or words, of any alphabet or language: such are formed by the human voice, and by some few birds, as parrots, &c.