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Of the Sacramentes of the Churche. The thirde Chapter.
Iewel. Defence. Pag. 103. & 104.M. Harding saith, there be seuen Sacramentes, vvhich (as he saith) do not only signifie a holy thing, but also doo make holy those, to vvhom they be adhibited. But hovv can Matrimonie sanctifie a man, and make him holy? Or by vvhat institution of Christ conteineth it grace in it selfe, and povver to sanctifie?
Harding.
S. Paule answereth you thus. Ye husbandes loue your wi∣ues, as Christ hath loued his Church. And then he pro∣ueth the wife to be the flesh of the husband, as also the Church is the body of Christe. And so both waies the Prophecie of Adam is verefied, that two shalbe in one flesh. Sacramentum hoc magnum est in Christe & Ec∣clesia. This is a great Sacrament (or a great Misterie) in Christe and the Churche. For we stand not now vpon the worde, but vpon the thing. What is that great My∣sterie? First Matrimonie is alwaies a coniunction of two in one, both by natural consent of myndes and also (if it be consummate) by corporal coniunction. Now by Christes institution, that coniunction is also made in∣separable, when he said, That which God hath ioined toge∣ther, let not man separate, or put a sunder.
Nowe then this coniunction is made to be insepa∣rable betwen faithful persons, it is directed by Christ, and instituted purposely to signifie his inseparable con∣iunction with the Church. And whiles it is instituted of Christe to signifie that thing, it is made a Sacrament, or Mysterie, whereunto Christe geueth grace, and holi∣nesse