Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 56
PRINCIPLES TOVCHING THE AGREMENT AND THE DIFFERENCE BETVVEN THE SACRAMENTS OF THE OLDE AND NEVV TESTAMENT. LVI.
1 INaſmuch as men can be joined together, (as AVGVSTINE ſaith) in no Religion, be it true, or be it falſe, except they be tied by ſome kinde of viſible thinges and ſacramentes: hence it commeth, that the Church either vnderunder the olde or vnderunder the new Teſtament, hath neuer wanted the ſeales of the grace of God, that is, the Sacraments.
2 Of theſe thinges ſeeing we hauehave ſpoken generallie in the former diſputation; we may now conueniētly ſee what agreement and what difference there was, between the ſacraments of both the couenaunts: that by this meanes it may bee declared, that the ſame faith was vnderunder both of them.
3 VntoUnto this treatiſe we lay this moſt true ground, as a foundation: namelie, that the couenaunt of God with his Church was alwaies one and the ſame, which notwithſtanding ſeemed to bee diuers, in regard of the diuers circumſtances of the diſpenſation, whence did ariſe the name and the difference of the old and the new Teſtament or couenaunt. Whereas therefore the thinges remained in the ſame in regard of ſubſtance, the ſignes were chaunged, according vntounto the circumſtance of time. For the fathers (as the Apoſtle ſaith 1. COR. 10.) did eate of the ſame ſpirituall meat, and drinke the ſame ſpirituall drinke, out of the rock that followed them, the which rock was Chriſt.
4 But to the end that the whole matter may bee the more manifeſt, we will more particularlie ſet downe their agreement and difference: and firſt of all their agreement, which conſiſteth in their efficient and finall cauſe.
5 Their efficient cauſe, is one and the ſame, namelie God, the authour of the Sacramentes of both the couenaunts, who alone (as hath beene already ſet downe) hath authoritie to appoint Sacraments, as hee onelie is to promiſe grace.
6 The finall alſo, is one and the ſame. For they reſpect the ſame end and ſcope, and teach the verie ſame things, to wit, Ieſus Chriſt, & the participation of all his benefites vntounto aeternall life.
7 The difference conſiſteth in the manner and meaſure of ſignifiyng or applying Chriſt, and alſo in the outwarde matter, forme and number.
8 For the Sacraments of the olde Teſtament, did ſignifie Chriſt to come, and therefore at his comming they ceaſed, and ours came in their place.
Wherefore they were juſtlie condemned by the Apoſtles, who taught that Circumciſion was to bee joined vntounto Baptiſme, as beeing as yet neceſſarie vntounto ſaluation. And a fewe yeares after the Ebionites, who woulde retaine the Iewiſh ceremonies, together with the Chriſtian Sacraments.
9 Nowe, the Sacraments of the newe Teſtament, doe ſhewe that Chriſt is already come, and they are therefore eſtabliſhed with new ſignes, that are to continue vntounto the worlds end, whereas the other were onelie appointed for ſome certaine time.
10 The nerer furthermore, that Chriſt hath manifeſted himſelf vntounto vsus, by ſo much the more clearlie, doe the Sacramentes of the newe Teſtament lay him before vsus. For, things that are paſt are better knowne, then theſe that are to come. And therefore AVGVSTINE hath ſaide well, that wee hauehave fewer Sacramentes then the Iewes had, but yet clearer, and a great deale more ſignificatiue, and therfore of greater efficacie to confirme our faith, and to ſeale the promiſes of God in our hearts.
11 The which ſaying of AVGVSTINE, is to bee rightlie vnderſtood. For wee thinke not (as the Schoole-men did) that they vnderunder the law, had the ſame grace onelyonly ſhadowed vntounto them in the Sacraments, which is offered as preſent vntounto vsus into ours: ſeeing the Apoſtle ſaith, that they did eate the ſame ſpirituall meat.
12 It appeareth that their outward matter and forme, was diuers from the Sacraments of the new Teſtament, by the verie ſignes, rites, and manner of adminiſtration.
13 That they differed in nomber it is out of controuerſie: for we, (according vntounto the inſtitution of Chriſt) doe acknowledge onelie two, Baptiſme, and the holie Supper: they had more, as Circumciſion, the Paſchall lamb, the Sacrifices and oblations.
Wee doe therefore condemne the Manichaees, who taught, that the things ſignified vnderunder the olde law were changed together with the ſignes.
Defended by DANIEL DOOLEGIANVS a low country-man.