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M. Hardinge.
VVith what face, saie ye, that ye allowe the Sacramentes of the Churche?* 1.1 Haue ye not abandot ned almoste al the Sacramentes of the Churche? Retaine ye any mo by name of the Sacramentes then two, Baptisme, and your Supper of the Lorde? Of whiche the one, after that Doctrine, as it is by you taught, and ministred, auaileth nothinge but to your further condemnation.
The sounde, and true Doctrine, whiche the Catholike Churche holdeth, and beleueth touching this point, is this:* 1.2 There be seuen Sacramentes, in which, vnder coouer of visible thinges, the* 1.3 Power of God worketh mans helth. They be these: Baptisme, Confirmation, the Sacrament of the aulter, Penaunce, ex∣treme Vnction, Order, VVedlocke. And these so we cal Sacramentes, as neuertheles we acknowledge the name of Sacrament may be extended to many other thinges. That it be knowen what a Sacrament is, this woorde Sacrament signifieth sommetime a holy thinge,* 1.4 sometime the signe of a holy thinge institu∣ted by God.* 1.5 As it is taken for a signe only, so is it found generally, not only in the Newe Lawe, but also in the Olde Lawe. But in the Newe Lawe these signes after a Peculiar, and Special manner be called Sacramentes, whiche do not only signifie a holy thinge, but also do sanctifie and make holy those to whō thei be adhibited, being such as by institution of Christe conteine grace in them, and Power to sancti∣fie.* 1.6 VVhereof a Sacrament is by the best learned diuines defined to be a visible signe of inuisible grace,* 1.7 so as it beare the image of it,* and be cause of the same. For the plaine vnderstāding of this Definition, how a Sacrament beareth the forme, signe, or image of inuisible grace, it appeareth euidently in Bap∣tisme, where washinge of the body sheweth the clensinge of the sowle. Also in the Sacramente of the Aulter,* 1.8 where the formes of Breade and VVine out wardly represent the spiritual nourishing of the soule. The like appeareth in other Sacramentes.
Neither is it a New, and straung Doctrine to say, that the Sacramētes of the Gospel conteine grace in them, for the Fathers teache the same not seldom. Chrysostome expounding the Mysterie of the Poole cal∣led Bethesda in Hebrewe, that was in Ierusalem, saith, that sicke folke were healed at the mouing of the water, to the intent men might be brought to vnderstande the vertue of Baptisme. For then was it comming to passe (saith he) that Baptisme shoulde be ful of power and grace.* 1.9 S. Ambrose in his booke de Sacramentis speaking of Baptisme, saith it is not euery water that healeth, but that water hea∣leth, whiche hath the Grace of Christe. Cyrillus vpon the foresaide Chapter of S. Iohn saith, that in Ba∣ptisme it is not VVater simply, that worketh, but when as it hathe receiued the grace of the Holy Ghoste.* 1.10 S. Augustine in a Sermon saith, the VVater in Baptisme is enriched with a more gifte in ma∣ner, then was the Virgine Mary. For the (saith he) deserued Chastitie to her selfe, this hath geuen to vs sanctifications: She deserued that she sinned not, this that it might purge sinnes. It is saide vniuersally by S. Cyprian of al the Sacramentes, that the fatte of Gods anointinge powereth fulnes of grace into the ministerial sanctifications,* 1.11 whereby he meaneth the Sacramentes. Yet we meane, that they conteine grace, and power to sanctifie, after suche maner of speakinge, as we saie of Potions and drinkes pre∣pared for sicke Persons, that thei conteine health, to the workinge whereof they be effectual.
And as it is saide of the Sacramentes, that thei conteine grace, so is it likewise saide, that through theire vertue, whiche thei haue by Gods institution, thei do not only signifie (as by these Defenders Do∣ctrine that semeth to be theire special office) but also with signification* 1.12 worke and cause, as an in∣strumental cause, the effecte of that, whiche they signifie.
After whiche maner,* 1.13 God hath geuen to the Sacramentes of the Newe Testamente, that thei worke the thinge signified, through vertue geuen them by Gods ordinance, to special effectes of grace.