The staffe of Christian faith profitable to all Christians, for to arme themselues agaynst the enimies of the Gospell: and also for to knowe the antiquitie of our holy fayth, and of the true Church. Gathered out of the vvorks of the ancient doctors of the church, and of the councels, and many other doctors, vvhose names you shall see here follovving. Translated out of Frenche into English, by Iohn Brooke of Ashe next Sandvviche. With a table to finde out all that which is contayned in the booke.

That there is but two Sa∣cramentes in the church of Iesus Christe.

Augustine in his .3. booke of the chri∣stian doctrine the .9. chapter.

* 1.1But in this time hereafter that the ma∣nyfest iudgement of our liberty is reuea∣led, by the resurrection of the Lorde: wee are not ouermuch charged through heauy operacions,* 1.2 and workinges of signes, which we already doe vnderstand: But the same Lord hath giuen by the doctrine of the Apostles, a certayne little number in steede of many, which are easye to doe, and good to vnderstand, and most chast to keepe: As is the Sacrament of baptisme: and the celebration of the body and bloud of the Lord. And when euery one doth vse them, being instructed to what ende they serue, he shall acknowledge them, not with a carnall seruitude and bondage, but to honor them in the liberty of the spirite.

And as it is a seruyle infirmytie to follow the letter, and to take the signes for the thinges, which are signified by them: so is it an euill error, to interprete vnprofitably the signes. &c.

Augustine wryting to Ianuarius in the 118. Epistle.

I would that thou shouldest knowe, that our Lorde Iesus (as he him selfe saith in the Gospell) hath submitted vs to an easie yoke, and light burthen.* 1.3 And there∣fore he hath ordayned in the christian church, a fewe Sacramentes in number, easie to be kept, excellent in significacion: as the Baptisme, consecrated in the name of the Trinitie: and the communication of the body and bloud of the Lord. And if there be any other thing commaunded in the Scripture. &c.

Augustine vpon S. Iohn in the .80. homelye.

The word being adioyned to the Cle∣ment, it shalbe made a Sacrament.

How we ought to vnderstand this word Sacrament.

Sacrament, Mystery, Secrete, is all one, and is vnderstoode for an hidde and

vnknowen thing, the which notwithstan∣ding is reuealed at a certayne time, when it pleaseth the goodnesse of God. Reede Tob. 12. Daniell. 2. Sapien. 2. 1. Cor. 4. Ephe. 5. Ephes. 1. Ephes. 3. Collos. 1.1. Timoth. 3. Apocal. 7.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Pet. 1. Galat. 3.
• * 1.2

  The sacra∣ments are tvvo, Bap∣tisme, and the Lordes supper.
• * 1.3

  Saint Augu∣stine nameth but tvvoo sacraments.