Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

Quest. 5. Whether two Sacraments be suffici∣ent under the Gospel?

The Church of Rome maintains the necessity of seven; not to stand upon the mystery and perfection of the number, she teaches their necessity, upon this ground, (viz.)

There are seven things she accounts necessary for preserving the natural life of man, and therefore there must be seven things to preserve the spiritual life of a Christian.

• 1. It is necessary that there be a birth, thats baptisme.
• 2. That there be a grouth, thats Confirmation.
• * 1.13. That he receive food, that is the Lords supper.
• 4. That he receive Physick, that is pennance.
• 5. That he receive Cordials, that is exteame Unction.
• 6. That he be governed by Laws, that is Order.
• 7. That he multiply in a lawful way, that is Marriage.

Unto which they might have added a thousand more, some of these being necessary for mans well being only; and so are shoos and stockings, hat, fire, houses, &c. but passing these over, we de∣fend that two Sacraments are sufficient under the Gospel.

• 1. The Scripture that contains all thing necessary for salvation, binds us to no more, mentions of no more; if more had been ne∣cessary, would not Christ have told us, given us the Element and the form, and promise of it, all which are necessary unto Sacra∣ments? but not a syllable of any of these more then unto two; there∣fore there are no more necessary.
• 2. Two Sacraments were sufficient for the Iews, to uphold them in the faith of the promises, (viz) Circumcision and the Paschal Lamb. Unto which now answers baptisme and the supper, there∣fore they are sufficient for us. For

• ...
  • 1. God shewed as great a care over them as us.
  • 2. They were as dear to him as we are.
  • 3. They were as subject to frailty as we are.
• 3. Two Sacraments are sufficient to all spiritual mercies a be∣liever can ask for and hope for. They seal, testifie, assure, and re∣present Adoption,* 1.2 Justification, Regeneration, Consolation, and Eternal Salvation, and what more would a Christian require?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hytia non sunt multi∣plicanda sine neces∣sitate.
• * 1.2

  Wisdoms seven pil∣lars, Prov. 9.1. it is a groundless, and roof∣less foun∣dation, be∣ing neither able to hold, nor keep out water.