The New Covenant, Book 1 · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. That extreme vnction is no Sacrament.
THe laſt fained Sacrament is the laſt annointing (as they call it) performed by the Prieſt in extremity, whereby they teach thataBellar. lib. 1. de extr. vnct. cap. 2. God aſſureth forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, and promiſeth eaſe of bodily diſeaſe, if it bee ſo expedient: if not, the ſaluation of the ſoule in the life to come. They vſe this forme of words, By this holy annointing and his moſt holy mercy, God doth forgiue thee whatſoeuer that hast offended, by ſeeing, hearing, ſmelling, taſting, and touching.
This vnction cannot be a Sacrament forbExtreame vnction can be no Sacrament. ſundry cauſes. Firſt, themſelues confeſſe, that it hath not his inſtitution from Chriſt. For the Rhemiſts in their hereticallcRhem teſtam. Annotations vponupon Mar. 6. confeſſe, that there is onelyonly a preparation vntounto it. And Peter Lumbard ſaith,dSenten. lib. 4. diſt. 23. cap. 2. It was inſtituted by the Apostle Iames. By this doctrine, Chriſt ſhould onelyonly be a preparer of Sacraments, not an appointer: a beginner, not a finiſher of them. So that they deale in this Sacrament as they do in other matters of our ſaluation, for they make Chriſt a beginner of ſaluation, but our ſelues the finiſhers of it, therby ſhaking the foundation of our Chriſtian faith. Now, theſe men are all accurſed by the Conuenticle of Trent,eConcil. Trid. ſeſſ. 7. can. 1. & 2. If any man ſhall ſay that the Sacraments of the new law were not all inſtituted by Ieſus Chriſt, let him be accurſed. Againe, the place of the Apoſtle Iames, maketh nothing for this forged Sacrament: for there is a great difference and contrariety betweene the annointing that Iames ſpeaketh of, and the popiſh anealing. Their Prieſts hauehave not the miraculous guift of healing, whereof this annointing was an outward ſigne in the primitiue Church, which cuſtome afterward ceaſed when the guift of healing ceaſed: being for a time granted to the Church for the credite of the Goſpell. As then the guift was temporall and for a ſeaſon, ſo muſt the ſigne be of the ſame ſtanding and continuance: and the guift being taken from the Church, if the ſigne ſhould remaine in vſe and practiſe, it ſhould be but a lying ſigne. For by the ſame reaſon,fIohn 5, 4, & 9, 6, 7. the brooke of Siloam, the poole Betheſda, the clay and ſpittle which were ſometimes vſed in healing the diſeaſed, the waſhing of feet, might be accounted Sacraments as well as this, being all ſignes of healing for a certaine ſeaſon, as alſo annointing with oyle was for the firſt times of the Church while it was in planting. Thirdly, the Apoſtle would hauehave all ſicke perſons annointed: theſe do annoint with their greazy oyle, onelyonly ſuch bodyes as are in a manner halfe dead, euen while they lye in extremity, and the life is ſtriuing to come forth. The Apoſtle would hauehave all the Elders called: but one Maſſe-Prieſt only with them bringeth the box, and annointeth the ſicke man. The Apoſtle aſſureth health to all that are thus annointed,gIam. 5, 14, 15. Mark. 6, 13. The prayer of faith ſhall ſaue him that is ſicke, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him vp. So alſo Mar. 6. They caſt out many diuels, and they annointed many that were ſicke with oyle, and healed them: whereby we ſee, that reſtoring and recouering of health was certainely promiſed to follow the annointing. But not one among many receiueth health after their popiſh annealing. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh of bodily health, of the guift of miracles, and of common oyle: they prattle of forgiuenes of ſins, of a common and continuall guift, of charmed and conſecrate oyle, and balme, (whereof notwithſtanding can none be found) of bowing their knees and ſaluting it, ſaying, Haile holy oyle, haile holy oyntment, haile holy balme; nay which is more blaſphemous, their oyle they call The oyle of ſaluation: wihch is to renounce ſaluation by Chriſt, and to deny the holy Spirit to ſanctifie the people of God. Furthermore, eueryevery Sacrament muſt hauehave a word of inſtitution: but the words which they vſe in annealing are a ſtrange ſalutation of a dumbe and deafe creature, not warranted nor found in Scripture, as the words of conſecration in the true Sacraments are: and therefore wee cannot receiue it for a Sacrament, but muſt account it an apiſh imitation and a popiſh tradition. Moreouer, wee hauehave prooued before, chap. 8. that the element is conſecrated when the Sacrament is miniſtred, by praying, thankſgiuing, eating and drinking, deliuering and receiuing, breaking and pouring out, bleſsing, and reciting the inſtitution: therefore the oyle hallowed long before by the Biſhop, heated with breathing vponupon it, charmed with much murmuring, ſaluted with bowing of the knee, and other like trumperies, that hallowing I ſay is fond, ſuperfluous, and ſuperſtitious. Laſtly, the effect and vertue of a Sacrament is ſpirituall grace in Chriſt: but extreme vnction hath no ſpiritual grace in Chriſt ſealed vp: for the Apoſtle aſcribethhIam 5, 16. not the forgiuenes of ſinnes to the annointing with oyle, but to the prayer of faith. Acknowledge (ſaith he) your faults one to another, and pray one for another that yee may be healed, for the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much if it be feruent: and againe, The prayer of fa…th ſhall ſaue the ſicke, and the Lord ſhall raiſe him vp, and if hee hauehave committed ſins, they ſhall be forgiuen him. Where we ſee, that the effect of pardon is aſcribed to the force of prayer: therefore extreme vnction is no Sacrament; and ſo this greazing, houſeling, and annointing is to be abandoned of the people of God.
What then, will ſome ſay, do you leaue the ſicke without all comfort and conſolation? No,iHow the ſick are to be annoin…ed. we viſite the ſicke among vsus: and although wee doe not houſle and annoint them with materiall oyle, we annoint them with the precious oyle of the mercy of God, we inſtruct them how to prepare themſelues to leaue the world, to depart this mortall life, and to ſtrengthen themſelues in the aſſured hope of euerlaſting life. We ſay, deare brother, God ſendeth his meſſenger Death to ſummon and arreſt you to come into his preſence.kGen. 3, 19. Iob. 14, 1, 2. All the children of Adam are duſt, and to duſt they muſt returne. Man that is borne of a woman is of ſhort continuance, and full of trouble, he ſhooteth foorth like a Flower and is cut downe, he vaniſheth alſo as a ſhaddow and continueth not. Death is common lPſal, 89, 48. Heb. 9, 27.to all fleſh, it is appointed to all men once to die. It is the gate through which we muſt enter into heauen. If we would liue for euer, we muſt dye: for the way to liue eternally, is heere to dye. Though the time be vncertaine, where, when, or how we ſhall die: yet nothing ſo certaine as that we muſt dye, wee know not how ſoone. This muſt not ſeeme ſtrange vntounto you, for the whole life of a Chriſtian ſhould be nothing but a meditation of death, being the end of all fleſh: wee ſhould make account of eueryevery day of our life, as if it were the inſtant day of our death. You muſt conſider that nothing befalleth vsus by chance or fortune, al things are ruled and guided by the ſoueraigne prouidēce of almighty God: all the haires of our head are numbred: not one Sparrow falleth to the ground without the wil of your heauenly Father: humble your ſelfe therefore vnderunder his mighty hand,mHeb. 12, 5, 6 he correcteth eueryevery childe whom hee loueth: as Heb. 12. My ſonne, deſpiſe not the chaſtening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loueth, he chaſteneth: and he ſcourgeth eueryevery ſon whom he receiueth. Heereby then God tryeth and proueth your obedience, patience, and faith,nIam. 5, 11. Iob. 13, 15. as we ſee in the example of Iob, who praiſed the name of God in all his miſeries: and if the Lord would kill him, he would not ceaſe to put his truſt in him. We exhort them to ſet their houſes in order before they dye, thereby to cut off hatred and contention, and to ſtay quarrels and ſuites after their departure, wherby oftentimes more is ſpent then was left: then to forget the world and the things of the world, and wholy to giuegive themſelues to the meditation of the life to come, where this corruptible ſhall put on incorruption, and this mortal ſhall put on immortality,o1 Cor. 15, 54 according to the exhortation of Chriſt and his Apoſtles in many places, as Math. 6. Seeke ye firſt the kingdome of God and his righteouſneſſe and all things ſhall be miniſtred vntounto you. And 1. Cor. 7. This I ſay brethren becauſe the time is ſhort, hereafter that both they which hauehave Wiues be as though they had none: and they which weepe, as though they wept not: and they that reioyce as though they reioyced not: and they that buy, as though they poſſeſſed not: and they that vſe this world, as though they vſed it not: for the faſhion of this world goeth away. AndpPhil. 3, 20.21. the ſame Apoſtle ſaith, Our conuerſation is in heauen, from whence alſo wee looke for a Sauiour, euen the Lord Ieſus Chriſt who ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like vntounto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things vntounto himſelfe. So 2. Cor. 4. &c. Therefore we faint not, 2 Cor. 4, 16.17, 18. and 5.1.2, 3.but though our outward man periſh, yet the inward man is renewed daily. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, cauſeth vntounto vsus a farre more excellent and an eternall weight of glory: while wee looke not on the things which are ſeene, but on the things which are not ſeene: for the things which are ſeene are temporall, but the things which are not ſeene are eternall. For we know that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle be deſtroyed, we hauehave a building giuen of God, that is, an houſe made not with hands, but eternall in the heauens: for therefore we ſigh, deſiring to be cloathed with our houſe which is from heauen, becauſe if we be cloathed, we ſhall not be found naked. And theqEccl. 1, …, 14 wiſeman, Eccle. 1. Vanitie of vanities ſaith the Preacher, vanitie of vanities, all …s vanity: I hauehave conſidered all the workes that are done vnderunder the Sunne, and behold all i… vanity and vexat on of ſpirite. So 1. Ioh. 2. LoueLove not this world, r1 Iohn 2, 15.16, 17.neither the things that are in this world. If any man louelove this world, the louelove of the Father is not in him: for all that is in the world (as the luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eyes, and the pride of life) is not of the Father, but is of this world: and this world paſſeth away and the luſt thereof: but hee that fulfilleth the will of God, Reuel. 14, 13. and 7, 16, 17.abideth for euer. And the ſame Apoſtle in his Reuelations, I heard a voice from heauen, ſaying, Write, the dead which dye in the Lord are fully bleſſed: euen ſo ſaith the Spirite, for they reſt from their labours, and their workes follow them. They ſhall hunger no more, neyther thirſt any more, neyther ſhall the Sunne light on them, neyther any heat, for the Lambe which is in the midst of the throne ſhall gouerne them, and ſhall leade them vntounto the liuely fountaines of Waters, and God ſhall wipe away all teares from their eyes.
Moreouer, we put them in minde to examine themſelues and their lifes paſſed, how they hauehave offended God and their brethren, and admoniſh them to make an humble & hearty confeſsion of their ſinnes to God, that they hauehave not liued as they ought to do, to be ſorry and grieued for the ſame, and to promiſe amendment of life if they recouer. Thus the faithfullſPſal. 51, 1.2.3, 4, 5. and 32.3, 4. and 38.3, 4. hauehave done; as wee ſee in Dauid, Pſal. 51. HaueHave mercy vponupon me O God according to thy louing kindneſſe, according to the multitude of thy compaſsions put away mine iniquities. I know mine iniquities, and my ſinne is euer before me: against thee, againſt thee, hauehave I ſinned, and done euill in thy ſight, that thou maist bee iuſt when thou ſpeakeſt, and pure when thou iudgeſt. Behold, I was borne in iniquity, and in ſinne hath my mother conceiued mee. And Pſal. 38. There is nothing ſound in my fleſh, becauſe of thine anger, neither is there reſt in my bones becauſe of my ſinne: for mine iniquities are gone ouer mine head, and as a weighty burden they are too heauy for me. This practiſe we ſee alſo in Daniel, tDan 9.7. Ezra 9, …. N…he. 9, 16. 2 Chro. 33, 12 13.in Nehemiah, in Manaſſes, and in many others. Wee mooue them to labour to be at one with God, to be reconciled to their brethren, and to remember the poore. Eſpecially we ſtirre them vp to prayer, in regard of their preſent neceſsities, and of the mercifull promiſes of God, reſting themſelues on the perfect and all-ſufficient ſacrifice of Chriſt. GraciousuPſal. 145, 18 and 50, 15. and precious are the promiſes that God hath made to all that come to the throne of his mercy, as Pſal. 145. The Lord is neere to all that call vponupon him, yea to all that call vponupon him in truth: hee will fulfill the deſire of them that feare him, he will alſo heare their cry, and will ſaue them: and Pſal. 50. Call vponupon me in the day of trouble, ſo will I deliuer thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. And our Sauiour, Math. 7.Mat. 7, 7, 8. Aske and it ſhall be giuen you: ſeeke, and ye ſhall finde: knocke, and it ſhall be opened vntounto you: for whoſoeuer asketh, receiueth: and hee that ſeeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it ſhall be opened. So the Apoſtle Iames The prayer of faith ſhall ſaue the ſicke, Iam. 5, 15, 16.and the Lord ſhall raiſe him vp: and if he hauehave committed ſins, they ſhall bee forgiuen him: Acknowledge your faults one to another, that ye may be healed: for the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much if it be feruent. Now when they are ſufficiently humbled for their ſinnes, wee moue them to hunger and thirſt after the merites of Chriſt,a1 Cor. 1, 30. who of God is made vntounto vsus wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and redemption. Wee alleadge vntounto thembMat. 11, 28.29. 1 Tim. 1.15. 1 Ioh. 1, 7, and 2, 1, 2. theſe and ſuch like comfortable places of Scripture, Come vntounto me all ye that are weary & heauy laden, and I will eaſe you. This is a true ſaying, and by all meanes worthy to be receiued, that Chriſt Ieſus came into the world to ſaue ſinners, of whom I am chiefe. Theſe things write I vntounto you that ye ſinne not: if any man ſinne, wee hauehave an aduocate with the Father, Ieſus Chriſt the iuſt, whoſe blood cleanſeth vsus from all ſinne: he is the reconciliation of our ſinnes, and not for ours onelyonly, but alſo for the ſinnes of the whole world. He is euermore about thoſe that are his, he maketh their bed in all their ſickneſſe,dCant. 8, 3. Rom. 14, 7, 8. his left hand is vnderunder their heads, and with his right hand he doth imbrace thē: ſo that whether they liue, they liue vntounto the Lord, or whether they dye, they dye vntounto the Lord: whether they liue or dye they are the Lords. This is true happineſſe.
Furthermore, we raiſe them vp with ſweet comforts & conſolations of the worde of God againſte1 Cor. 15.54 55, 56, 57. Rom. 8, 1, 38.39. Phil 1, 12. Ioh. 11, 25. 2 Tim. 4, 7, 8. all terror and feare of death, as 1 Cor. 15. Death is ſwallowed vp in victory, ô death where is thy ſting? ô graue where is thy victory? The ſting of death is ſinne, and the ſtrength of ſinne is the law: but thankes bee vntounto God which hath giuen vsus victory through our Lord Ieſus Christ. And Rom. 8. There is no condemnation to thē that are in Chriſt Ieſus, which walke not after the fleſh, but after the Spirite: I am perſwaded that neither death nor life, nor Angels, principalities, powers, nor th…ngs preſent, nor things to come, neither any creature ſhall bee able to ſeparate vsus from the louelove of God which is in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. Chriſt is to vsus aduantage, whether in life or in death. Such as beleeue in him, yea though they were dead, ſhall liue. Death is to vsus as a ſleepe, and the graue as a bed of reſt. A crowne of righteouſnes is laid vp for vsus, which the righteous iudge ſhall giuegive vntounto vsus: ſo that an euill death can neuer follow, where a good life hath gone before, foraſmuch as hee cannot poſsible dye ill, who hath liued well. Death indeed is a Scorpion or ſerpent: but his ſting is pulled out, hee may well hiſſe, but he cannot hurt: he may well threaten, but he cannot deſtroy, for Chriſt hath quelled and conquered him. Now,fHow ſicke perſons may put away the tediouſnes & paines of ſickeneſſe. to put away the griefe and tediouſneſſe of ſicknes, wee will and wiſh them to meditate on the things they hauehave heard and learned by the miniſtry of the worde from time to time in their health: to conſider with themſelues how God ſometimes ſuffereth the wicked to proſper for a time, and flouriſh like a greenegPſal. 37, 35.36, 37, 38. bay tree, & how he puniſheth them in the end, reſeruing wrath and iudgement for them: how he bleſſeth or correcteth his children in this life: how he hath prepared eternal torments for the wicked, and vnſpeakable glory for the godly: but aboue all the workes of God,h1 Cor. 2, 7.8, 9. Pſal. 85, 10, 11 we teach them deepely to thinke vponupon the glorious and gracious worke of our redemption, (wherein the infinite mercy and iuſtice of God doe meete together and kiſſe each other) taking delight and comfort therein with all thankſgiuing. Wherfore we perſwade thē to beare the paines and griefes of ſicknes with patience & conſtant perſeuerance, becauſe all ſickneſſe is Gods hand, who being the God of the ſpirits of all fleſh,i1 Sam. 2, 6, 7. killeth and maketh aliue, bringeth downe to the graue, and raiſeth vp againe. Thereby we are indeed chaſtened for our ſins, but they are nothing in compariſon of that anguiſh and agony which Chriſt ſuffered for vsus, neither are they worthy of the exceeding glory which ſhall be ſhewed vntounto vsus: and it is their duty to bleſſe God with all their hearts, that they ſuffer no more, ſeeing their afflictions (if they were greater) are inferior to their ſins, and ſeeing the ſame Lord that hath in mercy laid this gentle correction vponupon thē & made them to drink of his fatherly cup for their good might iuſtly puniſh them in all the parts of their bodies, and in al the powers of their ſoules, and then caſt them into hel to hauehave their portion for euer with the Diuell and his Angels. But God hath predeſtinated vsusk2 Tim. 2, 11, 12. to be like the image of his ſon: ſo that the deeper we ſinke downe in ſorrowes, the more perfectly we reſemble Chriſt: it is the great mercy of God we are not vtterly conſumed, & that his louing kindnes is not at an end toward vsus. The ſicknes of the body is phiſick for the ſoule, for the ſtriking of the one is the healing of the other: by the Croſſe wee muſt enter the kingdome of heauen, and learne to loath the pleaſures & profits of this preſent life. If they fall to deſpaire and doubtinglRemedies againſt doubting and deſpaire. of Gods fauour & louelove toward them in Chriſt,mEzek. 34, 4. Luke 19, 10. we labor to ſtrengthen the weake, and binde vp the broken hearted: we are ready to leaue ninety and nine in the wildernes, and ſeeke that loſt one. We bring them to God that hath ſtriken thē and made the wound, conſidering that the ſonne of man is come To ſeeke and to ſaue that which is loſt. God is mercifull and his mercy endureth for euer, he deſireth not the death of a ſinner, but that he turne vntounto him. His mercy is ouer all the workes of his hands, it is like the Ocean-ſea, where no bottome can be found or ſounded. It is the expreſſe commandement of God,n1 Ioh. 3, 20. that wee ſhould beleeue in Chriſt, who hath triumphed gloriouſly againſt ſinne, againſt Sathan, againſt hell, againſt death, againſt damnation, againſt deſperation. The promiſes of the Goſpell exclude no man,oEſay 55, 1, 2 Mat. 11, 28. vnleſſe we exclude our ſelues. Infidelity, doubtfulneſſe, and deſpaire, are very greeuous ſinnes, and ſtrike at the very heart of God. Wee muſt vnderunder hope beleeue aboue hope with faithfull Abraham. The mercies of God and the merites of Chriſts obedience are infinite,pEſay 54, 10. higher then the high Heauens, deeper then the earth, broader then the Sea, ſtronger thē the law; mightier then the Diuell, and greater then all the ſinnes of all the world, combined and heaped together. Beſides, God doth meaſure the obedience due to him,qRom. 7.20. rather by the affection then by the action, rather by the deſire to obey, then by the outward performance of it. Moreouer, when one ſinne is forgiuen, all the reſt are likewiſe forgiuen: euen as repentance of one ſinne, bringeth with it repentance of all knowne ſinnes,rRom. 11, 29. For the g…fts and call ng of God are without repentance. Laſt of all, we admoniſh them to conſider, that grace and faith (howſoeuer they may be ſmothered) are neuer wholy taken away by ſinnes of infirmity,ſRom. 5, 20. but thereby are manifeſted and magnified.
Touching their families, we ſay vntounto them, call them before you, exhort them to cleauetHow ſicke perſons are to behaue thē ſelues in reſpect of their families. vntounto God with full purpoſe of heart, to louelove him, to walke before him in fear and reuerence, and to ſerue him in righteouſneſſe all the dayes of their life: giuegive them charge to learne, beleeue, and obey the true religion and doctrine of ſaluation ſet downe in the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles. God commended Abraham for this, ſaying,uGen. 18, 19. I know him that hee will command his ſonnes and houſhold after him, that they keepe the way of the Lord to do righteouſneſſe and iudgement, that the Lord may bring vponupon Abraham that he hath ſpoken vntounto him. Dauid gaue Salomon his ſonne a notable and right noble charge before he dyed,a1 Chr. 28, 9. ſpeaking thus to him ſtanding before him and before the Princes and Peeres of the kingdome: Thou Salomon my ſonne, know thou the God of thy Fathers, and ſerue him with a willing mind: for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, and vnderſtands all the imaginations of thoughts: if thou ſeeke him, he will be found of thee, but if thou forſake him he will caſt thee off for euer. Teach them that child-hoode & youth are vanity,bEccl. 1, 12. teach them to remember their creator in the dayes of their youth: teach them to reade the Scripture, and to practiſe in their liues and conuerſations, what they hauehave read and learned. Inſtruct them to auoide idleneſſe, to eſchue euill company, to giuegive themſelues to prayer, and hearing the preaching of the worde. Warne thy children to louelove God, to reuerence their mother, and to louelove one another. Warne them to ſpeake euill of no man, and beware of taking Gods name in vaine. Put them in minde that God is their father, their creator, their preſeruer, their redeemer, their ſanctifier, yea, their iudge that ſhall come to iudge the quicke and the dead, and reward eueryevery man according to his workes. We muſt all appeare before the iudgement ſeatec2 Cor. 5, 10. of Chriſt, that eueryevery one may receiue the things which are done in his bodye, whether good or euill. Put them in remembrance, not to oppreſſe or defraud any man,dPſal. 41.5. for the Lord is an auenger of all ſuch things, whoe will not bleſſe euill gotten goods, but ſend his curſe vponupon them, and they ſhall not proſper. Admoniſh them to ſhew forth their faith by good works, and to ſhew mercy according to their powers: Laſtly, to honour their Princes, parents, maiſters, and all ſuperiors. Thus we inſtruct men to liue and to dye, that dying they may liue with God in his kingdome. Thus we annoint the ſick with precious balme thate1 Theſ. 4, 6. ſhal not break their head, & with the inward and inuiſible oyle of Gods grace and mercy. Thus we warne them to prepare the oyle of faith in their lampes, and to keepe a good conſcience toward God and man, that they may with ioy and comfort depart in peace, render vp their ſoules into the hands of God, cheerefully meeting the Bride-groome, and entring with him into his kingdome. So then the people looſe nothing by lacke of the materiall oyle, the want thereof beeing ſupplyed with exhortations, admonitions, reproofes, conſolations, prayers, and ſupplications, more deſired of the ſicke, and more auaileable for the ſicke. And thus much of extreame vnction, and the other forged Sacraments, whereof ſome wanting the outward ſigne, ſome the ſpirituall grace ſignified, ſome the word of inſtitution, ſome the promiſe annexed, and al of them the commandement of Chriſt, the teſtimony of the Scriptures, and the conſent of elder times: we cannot admit them for any Sacraments; and ſo we conclude, that there are onelyonly two Sacraments of the Church vnderunder the Goſpell, which are, Baptiſme, and the Supper of the Lord.