Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 57
PRINCIPLES TOVCHING THE NOMBER OF THE SACRAMENTS OF THE NEVV TESTAMENT. LVII.
WE HAVE DEALT TOVCHING SACRAments in generall, and the difference of the Sacraments of the olde and new Teſtament: wee will nowe, (omitting the olde which were aboliſhed by the comming of Chriſt) deale with the new.
1 THe Sacraments of the new Teſtament, are thoſe which Chriſt hath inſtituted in his Church, to continue vntill his ſecond comming.
2 Of this ſort there are onelie two, Baptiſme, and the Supper of the Lord: by the former we are receaued into, by the latter nouriſhed and ſuſtained in the Church.
Confirmation, Repentance, extreame vnction, order and mariage, (which the Papiſts account among the Sacraments) are none in deed.
3 For the true definition of a Sacrament cannot agree vntounto them.
Now that definition which they bring, that a Sacrament is a viſible ſigne of an inuiſible thing, reacheth a great deale toe farre, and is not proper vntounto this diſcourſe.
4 Therfore, although the Fathers in the verie puritie of the auncient Church, did vſe the worde Sacrament in a verie large ſignification: yet did they not acknowledge any more Sacraments of grace, then theſe two, ſo far were they from admitting the other fiue into the nomber of Sacraments.
5 For theſe doe want in deede that forme whereby the Sacraments are that which they are: that is, the worde of God, or the inſtitution of Chriſt, (whoſe office alone it is to ordaine Sacramentes) comprehended in his word.
6 And none of them doe teſtifie the vnion that the Saints hauehave betweene themſelues, vnderunder Ieſus Chriſt their head.
7 We do not denie but there were ſome vſe of them in the auncient and purer Church, but we affirme it to bee a far other, than that which is now in Poperie.
8 The Papiſts make Confirmation to be the next Sacrament vntounto Baptiſme: and they ſay, that it is that, wherby the children of Chriſtians, that are come to age, after they are annointed in the fore-head with oile, and hauehave receaued a blow or a pat of the Biſhop, doe (forſooth) receaue the holie Ghoſt, though they make no confeſsion at all of their Faith.
9 But the Fathers made that to be Confirmation, wherby thoſe that were baptiſed when they were infants, beeing after inſtructed in the Chriſtian Religion, were, by laiyng on of hands, and ſolemne prayers, after they had made publick confeſsion of their faith, commended vntounto God and the church.
10 But it was not a Sacrament, for it wanted a proper viſible ſigne, which is one neceſſarie part of the matter of a Sacrament.
11 True Repentaunce wee admitte in the Church, as beeing altogether neceſſarie vntounto the ſaluation of all beleeuers that are come to age, although it hath not alwaies ſatisfaction before the Church joyned with it.
12 Now the Papiſts call that Repentaunce, when as a man being touched with a perfect contrition for his ſinns, doth confeſſe them by making a full reckoning of them in the eares of the ſacrificing maſſe-prieſt, by whome, after he hath receaued abſolution, he is enjoined to make ſuche a ſatisfaction, as receauing force from the merits of Chriſt doth ſatisfie Gods juſtice.
13 And ſeeing furthermore, it hath no viſible ſigne, it can not be a Sacrament.
14 They make extreame vnction to be a fift Sacrament whereby ſome perſon beeing at the point of death, is by the ſacrificing Maſſe-prieſt annointed with oile, that the paines of Purgatory may be remitted vntounto him.
15 In the time of the Apoſtles, when as the guiftes of miracles remained, as yet, thoſe who were ſick, were wont to call the Elders of the Church, by whome they were annointed, and ſo did oftentimes recouer their health.
16 But miracles beeing ceaſed, vnction alſo hath ceaſed, and therefore is no Sacrament: for the Sacraments of the new Teſtament, are to continue vntounto the comming of Chriſt.
17 Orders amongſt the Papiſts, are rites and Ceremonies, partlye inuented by them, and partlie fetched from the Fathers, whereby they conſecrate their Eccleſiaſticall Miniſters.
18 It is out of controuerſie, that in the Church of God (who is the authour of order) all thinges ought to bee done in order: yet cannot this order bee anie wiſe a Sacrament of the Church, ſeeing it neither hath anie promiſe of grace annexed vntounto it, nor doth belong vntounto all the faithfull.
19 Mariage, (being the ſeauenth Sacrament of the Papiſts) is out of queſtion, the holie ordinaunce of God, appointed for the propagation and conſeruation of mankinde: yet do we not acknowledge it to be a Sacrament.
20 Firſt, it hath no promiſe of ſaluation, nor any corporall matter, which might bee a ſigne of the grace of ſaluation, ordained by God.
21 Secondlie, it is not common vntounto all the elect: for it is not needfull, that all thoſe who will bee accounted of the viſible Church, ſhould be maried: yea, the Papiſticall cleargie doe reject the ſame as a filthie and prophane thing.
22 Thridlie, it is not proper vntounto the Church of Chriſt vnderunder the new Teſtament: for it was preciſelie inſtituted at the verie beginning of the world, and it is common vntounto all men, euen the verie heathen, which could not bee, if it were a Sacrament.
Defended by DANIEL CRAMERIVS Occitanus.