The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the Sacraments in generall, the reeeiuing, and vse of them.

IN the next place, fol∣low the Questions of con∣science touching the third part of Gods Outward worship, namely, the Sa∣craments; and these con∣cerne either the admini∣stration, or the receiuing of them. The Ad∣ministration I will here let passe, and handle those Questions onely, that concerne the re∣ceiuing and vse thereof, both in generall and in particular.

Touching the receiuing of the Sacraments in generall, there is one onely Question

Whether the Sacraments ministred by Heretickes, Ido∣latours and vnsufficient mini∣sters be Sacraments or no?

For answere hereunto, we are to knowe there be three sorts of men that may admi∣nister

the Sacraments. Some are true & law∣full ministers, lawfully called by God & men to that function, keeping the right forme of the Sacrament according to the institution. Some againe, are more priuate persons, that haue no authoritie at all to administer, whome we may oppose to the former sort as contrary to them in this action. Others a∣gaine be admitted to stand in the roome of lawfull ministers by the acceptation & con∣sent of men, or by custome, though corrupt, and these are in a meane betweene the two former sorts. Of the first there is no question. But the Sacramēt administred by the second is in truth a meere nullitie; because they haue no calling thereto, neither can they doe it of faith: forasmuch as they haue neither precept nor exāple out of the word of God. Now for the third sort, though they be not indeede lawfull pastors; yet beeing in the place of such, by the consent, allowance, and custome of men, though corrupt; their action is of force, and the Sacrament which is admini∣stred by them, is in deede a true Sacrament; which I prooue by these Reasons.

First, the preaching of the word, and ad∣ministration of the Sacraments are all one in substance. For in the one the will of God is seene, in the other heard. Now the word preached by Heretikes, is the true word of God, and may haue his effect. The Scribes and Pharises, great Doctors of the Iewes,

were not all of the Tribe of Levi, but descen∣ded frō other Tribes. Againe, euen the princi∣pall of them liued by extortion and bribery, and were wicked men, yea Heretikes and A∣postataes, deposed & excommunicated per∣sons. And yet because they occupied the pla∣ces of good teachers, and sate in the chaire of Moses, that is read the doctrine of Moses Law, Christ bids his disciples to heare them. Matt. 23. 3. Prouided only that they tooke heed of the leauen of their false doctrine, and wicked life. Now if the word taught by their ministery was powerfull, why may not the Sacraments ministred by the Heretiques standing in the roome of true ministers be true Sacraments? In the daies of Paul, Phillip. 1. 15. Some preached Christ through enuy and strife, and some of good wil: what was the Apostles iudgement in this case? Himselfe answereth, v. 18. What then? yet Christ is preached all manner of wayes, whether it be vnder a pretence or sin∣ceerely, and I therein ioy, yea and will ioy.

Secondly, this point is plaine by examples. The Leviticall priests vnder the Lawe, were Heretickes, and taught after a sort the breach of the morall law. Yea they held iustification by workes, Rom. 10. 3. and yet Circumcision by them administred, was in force; neither was the passeouer, celebrated by them, or the sacrifices which they offered, any other then the true Passeouer and true sacrifices. Iudas was a very hypocrite, yea Christ calls him a

Deuill, Ioh. 6. 70. and yet he preached the word at Christs commandement, and bapti∣zed with the rest of his Disciples, Ioh. 4. 1, 2.

Thirdly, the Sacrament, if it be admini∣stred in the name, and by the power of Christ, is the ordinance of God, beeing re∣ceiued by faith, yea a true Sacrament of Christ; and the force and efficacie thereof, doth not depend vpon the worthines of the Minister, but vpon Christ. The letters or e∣pistle sent from one man to an other, are au∣thenticall, and serue fully to expresse the minde of the author, though the messenger or carier be a wicked or a naughtie man. And in like manner, the sinne of any man that stands in the roome of a lawfull Mini∣ster, doth not nullifie the Sacrament, and therefore not heresie, or vnsufficiencie. S. Cy∣prian who liued 300. yeares after Christ, was of this opinion, that Sacraments administred by Heretikes, were no Sacraments. But the Churches of Africa in those times conclu∣ded the contrarie against him, according to the doctrine that hath beene deliuered.

The Vse. I. By this doctrine they are iust∣ly to be blamed, who would haue their chil∣dren rebaptized, which were before bapti∣zed by Popish priests; because the Sacra∣ment, though administred by a Papist, if he stand in the roome of a true Pastour, & keep the forme thereof, is a true Sacrament. II. Others by this doctrine come to be reproo∣ued,

that refuse to receiue the Sacraments at the hands of vnpreaching ministers. For though the minister be vnsufficiēt, & preach not, yet if he be called by the Church, he hath the place of a lawfull Pastour, his admi∣nistration is warrantable, and the Sacrament by him administred a true Sacrament.

If it be said, that then the true Sacraments may be out of the true church, as in the church of Rome at this day; because Here∣ticks and such like Ministers are not of the church. I answer, that there is in the church of Rome, the hidden church of God, and the Sacraments are there vsed, not for the Romish church, but for the hidden church which is in the midst of Papacie; like as the lanterne beareth light not for it selfe, but for the passengers: yet hence it followeth not, that we should communicate with Ido∣laters, Hereticks, and wicked persons.

And so much of the Administration of the Sacraments in generall. I come now to the Particular Sacraments.