Theologicall axioms or conclusions publikly controuerted, discussed, and concluded by that poore English congregation, in Amstelredam: to whome H.C. for the present, ad-ministreth the ghospel. Togither with an examination of the saide conclusions, by Henoch Clapham. Here-vnto is added a litle tractate entituled. The carpenter.

Examination.

A Sacrament / or Ceremoniall seale / accordinge to Definitions later or Elder / with one harmonie of consent / is / A Ceremonie instituted by the lord, bringing with it to the faithfull receiuer som celestial or spi∣rituall blessinge signified therby. And therfore it is commonly saide that a sacrament consisteth of a Signe and a Signified thinge. But because euery Signe signifyinge somthinge is not an holy signifier / therfore only the Au∣thor of holynes / is Author of these sacraments that promise spirituall giuinge.

The first two / Baptisme and the Supper is now a days commonly (as only) receiued sacraments: therfore I neede not to examine them. On∣ly now thus much.

1. The Sacramentaries / who make them naked representatiue signes:

2. The Transubstantiatours / that thinck the Reall signes to be tur∣ned into the things signified.

3. The Consubstantiatours / that thinke the thing signifyed to be really there present togither with the signes:

4. The Polybaptiste, that wold haue Baptisme administred 1. in In∣fancy: 2. in Adolyscency: 3. after the committinge of euerie great synne? all these we explode for fanaticall.

Touchinge Imposition (or / layinge on of handes) I haue longe won∣dred why men durst not plainly teach it a Sacrament. It semeth / because either men haue begonne ministrie of word and sacraments without it / what tyme they haue departed from Romes Church? or else esteming their whole Ordinacon there had for an Idoll and a thing of nothing? they therfore haue (not knowing how to com vnto better) bene contented to let it passe away on a sounde / not sayinge so much as / God saue it.

Yet / because no iniquitie of tymes shall vtterly eat out the lords truth (for then / contrary to Christ his promise / Hel gates shold preuayle) Therfore / as the Church of Rome hath kept the footinge of this (though with apish spatterings and shavings) so Mr. Calvin in his Institution / Mr. Cartwright against Doctor whitgiste / Mr Dudl. Fenner in his Methode of Theologie / and others / they haue not only taught the signe or externall Ceremonie / but also the thing signified: first / The minister therby was assured (being faithfull) to haue the Lords hand with him: 2. The people they therby are to learne subiection vnto the Lords ministrie / with expectation of blessing•• therby.

If our Prescisians of all sorts / dare not (because the Papists holde it) pronounce it a sacrament / loe / their betters haue taught it to be a Diuyne Signe of a thing signified / and what call they that? If they say / it is a sa∣crament indeed / but of another kynd / they then say nothinge: for they teach not in their halpenie Catechismes / how many kyndes / but how many Sacra∣ments. Yea / euery where / they beat vpon two / only two / because indeede they will be examiners of them two: but not a word of layinge on of hands (though the holy ghost teach it to be one of the beginings of Christs foun∣dation: Hebr. 6.1.2.) For if they thaught it effectuallie (as the two former) then it may be som of the people wold examine them / namely / if so hands haue bene layd on them / with how / where / when? Then it may be / som of theyr sheepe wold bid the sheopherd stand back from the supper (aswell as he bids them) vntill he had publikly by repentaunce put away his errour. I wold our other people wold once (while it is called to Day) looke vnto such El∣ders and Deacons / as neuer had sacramentall hands vpon them.

But to cease harping on such an vnpleasant stringe / we first vnderstand that there be thre sacraments: and of these thre / the first two are Common to the whole Church: the thirde is peculiar vnto Som. The prophane ad∣ministration of Baptisme and the Supper / it falleth out through the neglect of the Thirde. For if (as Paul admonisheth 1. Tim. 5.22. Hands were layd sodainly on no man / Then the lords people shold not be so combred with Dun∣ces and Pot-companyons.

That we speake of Seales ordinary / It is because we otherwise knowe that Oyle-vnction (Ia. 5.14.) It is a sacrament incommended to Christs church / but extraordinarie / for it was not to the whole church: as also / it con∣tayned a miracle / namely / of giuing soundnes to the sick body: vers. 15. and Mark. 6.13.

Till therfore the Romanistes do ioyne the Miracle to their coniured oynt∣ment / we can neither take them for such Elders / nor their worke wrought any sacrament / more then the Apothecaries vncting of stonned ioynts with Nerue-oyle: nay / not so good as that / for I therby haue quickly sene a chainge / from sore to sounde? but most commonly after their vnction / the weakst holdinge the candle (it may be with the help of another hande) he

tolles out his passing-peale. If such had com vnto Iob / (Ch. 13.4.) He wold haue said / ye are all physitians of no value.