Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

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Supererogation

the performance of more than duty requires. The docmore than duty requires. The doctrine of supererogation in Church history is the doctrine founded on that of the communion of saints, that the merit of good works done by one Christian belong to the whole body of the faithful. The principle was affirmed in the "Institution of a Christian Man" published by authority of Convocation (A. D. 1537). At the time of the Reformation the sale of indulgences had brought discredit on the doctrine of supererogation, or "as it might more properly be called, the communion of saints in good works," and Article XIV. was directed against the popular belief.

Works of supererogation, is a controversial phrase borrowed from Article XIV. of the Church of England, and there defined as "voluntary works, besides, over, and above God's Commandments."

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