A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 36
CHAP. 36.
Of the Sacraments in generall.
The Sacraments are to be conſidered
In generall; wherein is ſhewed,
Firſt,
What a Sacrament is.
What be the parts.
2. What bee the perſons,
1. By whom it is inſtituted.
2. By whom they are to bee
Adminiſtred.
Receiued.
In ſpeciall, Chapter 37.
ROM. chap. 4. verſ. 10. 11.
10. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumciſion, or in vncircumciſion? not in circumciſion, but in vncircumciſion.
11. And he receiued the ſigne of circumciſion, a ſeale of the righteouſneſſe of faith, which he had yet being vncircumciſed: that he might be the father of all them that beleeue, though they be not circumciſed; that righteouſneſſe might be imputed vntounto them alſo:
Q. HItherto of the word of God, which is the principall outward meanes; what other outward meanes are there where by the Spirit worketh?
A. There be two: the Sacraments, and Cenſures of the Church.
Q. What is to be conſidered in a Sacrament in general?
A. Firſt, what it is, and what be the parts thereof.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. It is a ſigne & ſeale of the couenant of grace, or an action of the Church, wherein by outward things done according to the a1. Cor. 11. 23. Gen. 17. 7. 10. 11. Exod. 12 6. Luk. 1. 59.ordinance of God, inward things being betokened, Chriſt and his benefits are offered to all, and exhibited to the faithfull, for the ſtrengthening of their faith in the eternall Couenant.
Q. Why call you it an action?
A. Becauſe it is not a bare ſigne alone, but a work.1. Cor. 11. 24. 25.
Q. Why call you it an action of the Church?
A. Becauſe it is a aExod. 12. 6. 47 2. Chron. 30. 5. 13. Mat. 3. 5. 6. Luk. 1. 59. & 3. 21. 1. Cor. 11. 33.publike action, and appertaineth to the whole Church: and it is as great, or a greater indignitie for the Sacraments to bee adminiſtred in priuate corners, as for ciuill iudgement bAmos 5. 15.which ought to be open and publike. Alſo, the ſacrifices vnderunder the law, were not ſo excellent as theſe; yet was it not cDeut. 6 11. 13. Leuit. 17. 34.lawfull to offer them in priuate houſes. Hence it appeareth, that the Sabbath is the fitteſt time for the celebration of the Sacraments, when the Church is aſſembled together, to performe the other parts of Gods worſhip.
Q. What are the parts of a Sacrament?
A. The viſible creatures ordained for ſignes and figures of Chriſt, and the inuiſible things ſignified and repreſented thereby.
Q. Why are viſible creatures ordained hereunto?
A. They are ordained to this end, that by comparing and conferring them with the things which are inward, they might helpe: firſt, our vnderſtanding, in which regard they are (aGal. 3. 1. as it were) images or glaſſes. 2. Our remembrance, in bLuk. 22 19. 1 Cor. 11. 24.which reſpect they are monuments. 3. & eſpecially, the perſwaſion of our harts, by reaſon whereof they cRom. 4. 11.are ſeales and pledges.
Q. What may be obſerued from hence?
A. Firſt, what groſſe blindneſſe, forgetfulneſſe, and hardneſſe of heart, and infidelity is in vsus by nature, when the word and oath of God is not ſufficient to confirme our faith in the promiſes of God, but wee muſt hauehave ſuch aides as theſe. Secondly, wee are to note alſo the mercy of God, that thus applieth himſelf to our weakeneſſe. And thirdly, what miſerable men they are that neglect and contemne the Sacraments, which are pledges of ſo great fauours, and ſuch effectuall helpes vntounto vsus.
Q. What elſe hauehave we to obſerue?
A. The goodneſſe and wiſedome of God, that hath choſen common things, and ſuch as are eaſie to be had, for ſo high and ſingular myſteries: whereas he might hauehave choſen things more rare, and of greater price, to ſet out ſuch excellent benefits as are offered vntounto vsus in the Sacraments: and herein Gods goodnes appears more vntounto vsus vnderunder the Goſpell, then to them vnderunder the Law.
Q. What are the ſpirituall things repreſented by the viſible creatures?
A. Chriſt aGalath. 3. 27. 1. Cor. 10. 4.Ieſus with all his ſauing benefits, which are exhibited in the outward ſignes, and ſealed to the worthie receiuers thereby.
Q. How doth that appeare?
A. Firſt, in that it is vſuall in the Scripture, to aGen. 17. 10. Exod. 12. 5. 11. 1. Cor. 5. 7.giuegive the name of the thing ſignified to the ſigne, which is not onelyonly in regard of the reſemblance and proportion that is betweene them, but to ſhew the inſeparable coniunction of the thing ſignified with the ſigne, in the worthie receiuer, in which regard they are called bRom. 4. 11.ſeales.
Q. Doe they ſeale nothing elſe but Chriſt and his benefits to vsus?
A. Yea, they ſeale alſo our promiſe to God, viz. Gen. 17. 11. Exod. 13. 9.that wee take him onelyonly for our God, and our redeemer, whom alone by faith wee reſt vponupon, and whom we bind our ſelues to obey.
Q. Hitherto of the deſcription and parts of a Sacrament, what further is to be conſidered concerning a Sacrament in generall?
A. The neceſſarie circumſtances concerning the ſame; to wit, the perſon inſtituting the Sacrament, the perſons that are to adminiſter and receiue the ſame.
Q. Who is the inſtitutor of a Sacrament?
A. God onelyonly, in whoſe hands alone it is to giuegive 1. Cor. 11. 23.the inward grace, repreſented by the outward ſignes.
Q. May not any perſons adminiſter and receiue the Sacraments?
A. No, but ſuch as are appointed thereunto by Gods owne ordinance.
Q. Who then by Gods ordinance are to adminiſter the Sacraments?
A. The Miniſters of the Word, who repreſent vntounto Matth. 28. 19. 1. Cor. 4. 1.vsus the Lord, whoſe ſtewards they are.
Q. What is the Miniſters office herein?
A. To conſecrate the elements, and then to diſtribute them.
Q. Wherein conſiſts the conſecration of the elements?
A. Partly in declaring the inſtitution of the Sacraments, and partly in going before the Congregation in prayer vntounto God. Firſt, in praiſing God, who hath ordained ſuch meanes for the reliefe of our weaknes: then in ſuing to God, that hee would bee pleaſed to make thoſe meanes effectuall to that end, for which they were ordained.
Q. Is not the ſubſtance of the elements changed by this conſecration?
A. No verily; onelyonly the vſe is altered, in that they are ſeparated from a common to a holy vſe, which change and alteration continueth only whil'ſt the action is in hand.
Q. Doth the Miniſter with the ſigne, giuegive the thing ſignified alſo?
A. No: hee onelyonly aMat. 3. 11.diſpenſeth the ſignes, but it is God that giueth and diſpenſeth the thing ſignified.
Q. Is God alwaies preſent to giuegive the thing ſignified, to all them that the Miniſter giueth the ſigne?
A. No, not to all: for ſome in receiuing the ſignes, receiue together with them a1. Cor. 11. 29.their owne iudgement: yet hee is alwaies ready to giuegive the thing ſignified to all thoſe that are fit to receiue the Sacraments, and to ſuch perſons the ſignes, and things ſignified are alwaies conioyned.
Q. Who are the perſons that are to receiue the Sacraments?
A. All Chriſtians that are prepared thereunto.
Q. Is there any ſpeciall preparation required to the receiuing of the Sacraments?
A. Yes verily: for ſeeing men ought to come with Exod. 3. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 28.preparation to the hearing of the Word alone: they ought much more ſo to come, when the Sacraments are adminiſtred alſo, wherein God doth offer himſelfe more familiarly and viſibly to vsus.
Q. VVhat is the preparation that is required in them that come to receiue the Sacraments?
A. There is required in thoſe that are of yeres of diſcretion, to a worthie participation of the Sacraments, knowledge, faith, and feeling, both in the Law, and in the Goſpell.
Q. Seeing no man is able to attaine to the knowledge of the Law and the Goſpell perfectly, much leſſe the ſimple and common people: Tell me how farre is this knowledge, faith, and feeling neceſſarie?
A. 1. concerning the Law, it is neceſſarie that ye receiuer of the Sacramēt be able to vnderſtand & beleeue the common corruption of all men, both in the bitter root of originall ſin, & in the poyſoned fruits therof, together with the curſe of euerlaſting death due thervnto; and that he be able to apply both theſe, that is, the ſinne and wages thereof to himſelfe. Secondly, concerning the Goſpell, that he be able (in ſome meaſure) to vnderſtand the couenant of grace, which God (in Chriſt) hath made with the ſonnes of men: and then, that by faith he be able (in ſome meaſure) to apply the ſame to himſelfe.
Q. What ariſeth from this knowledge, faith, and feeling, to a further preparation thereunto?
A. A true and earneſt deſire to bee made partaker Mat. 3. 13. Act. 8. 36. Luk. 22. 15.of the Sacraments; with a conſcionable care to performe ſpeciall duties, in and after the action of receiuing.
Q. VVhat duties (in the action of receiuing) are to bee performed.
A. Firſt, a graue and reuerent behauiour, befitting ſuch holy myſteries. Secondly, an attentiue heedfulneſſe in comparing the outward ſignes and actions in the Sacraments, with the inward and ſpirituall things which they betoken..
Q. VVhat duties are to bee performed after the partaking of the Sacraments?
A. If we hauehave a ſenſe and feeling of the gracious work of God by them, we are to reioyce with thankſgiuing; if not, wee are to enter into iudgement with our ſelues, and to humble our ſelues for our want therein. And though we ought to be humbled, if wee feele not the worke of God in vsus, in or after the Sacraments, as that which argueth want of preparation before, or attention in receiuing of them; yet ought wee not therefore to bee altogether diſmayed: for as the ſicke man feeleth not the nouriſhment of his meate, becauſe of his maladie; and yet notwithſtanding is nouriſhed: ſo is it in ſuch faithfull ones, as doe not ſo ſenſibly feele the working of God, in and by the Sacraments, through the weakneſſe of their faith. And although wee cannot feele it immediately, yet after, (by the fruits thereof) we ſhall be able to diſcerne of our profiting thereby.