A helpe to true happinesse. Or A briefe and learned exposition of the maine and fundamentall points of Christian religion. By Mr. Paul Bayne

QVEST. II.

2. Q. WHat are the Sacraments?

A. Certain outward signes and seales appointed of God to assure vs, that Christ with all his benefits, are giuen to vs, Rom. 4.11. 1 Cor. 10.16.

In which answer, 1. marke the common nature of Sa∣craments. 2. The Author. 3. The end and vse of them. Obserue 1. That Sacraments are for their nature signes and seales.b 1.1 Circumcision is called a signe of the Coue∣nant.c 1.2 A signe and seale of the righteousnesse by Faith. There are naturall Signes, as smoak is a signe of fire: there are ciuill ones, some expres∣sing

only, as Pictures, some signifying the relation of one Person to another, as these cognizances, do signi∣fie such as are Reteinors to those who gaue them: some are signes, by which that is exhibited & wrought which is signified: thus a ring giuen in contract of marriage: so the giuing a key in token of possession: so the digging a ••urfe in seazing on land: some signes are sacred, as the Sacraments, which doe not only signifie spiritual things, but testifie vs, to belong vnto God, and also are instru∣ments, exhibiting to vs that, which they represent; that looke as a man by his signe (say by deliuering a key) doth giue the possession of a house to another: so doth

God by giuing these signes, giue to our faith receiuing the things signified also: Hence the Scripture speak∣eth of them as causes.d 1.3 By Baptisme wee are set into his death; because God doth vse them, working by them this effect, though they of themselues worke not any thing of the effect.

[Obiect.] Obiect. But why doth God vse them as instru∣ments, if they haue no force of causing the effect: for men adioyne to themselues, no instrumentall cause, but it worketh something of the effect.

[Answ.] Answ. True, for mens actiue vertue is finite, and cannot reach alone to those effects, which by instruments are effected. But God, whose

infinite vertue doth alone reach, to the working of grace, he may vse such instru∣ments, as worke to this or that, but haue no vertue of producing it. Yea, mens signes seeme no cause of that, which by signification onely they exhibit, as the giuing a key, is not the cause of possession: for possession is no wayes in the key, as a cause, but as a signe onely, effectually signifying of it: for the Persons contracting, and considerations and ends wherewith they contract, are sufficient of themselues, to cause this effect.

Secondly, that all holy [Obser. 1] signes and seales are appoin∣ted of God: all Sacraments old and new were thus or∣dained.e 1.4 Iohns Baptisme,

was it from heauen or men? it was not from men, but God. None can make a signe, or passe by seale that which is not in his power to bestow; Now grace, both of illumination and sanctifica∣tion, are not in the power of any Creature, and therefore hee cannot institute signes, which shall signifie the con∣ferring of these things, which are aboue his com∣passe; and as none but Kings can appoint a seale of estate, which shall signe in the Common-wealth: so none in the Church, but Christ himselfe the Lord and King, can appoint a seale, which shall signifie ought in the Church. Beside, to bee a Teacher of my vnderstan∣ding, and an exciter of my

deuotion, are such effects which require vertue inhe∣rent or assistant, to those things which should be cau∣ses of them: but no Sacra∣mentall signe of mans deui∣sing (such as in the Church of Rome are many) hath any vertue in it: for then it must come from that word put ••oorth in the Creation, and so things naturall should haue a force, communicated to them, of teaching super∣naturall, or else by Gods af∣ter institution: such we read not any, but of Baptisme, and the Lords supper onely; Or by the Churches impe∣tration. But this cannot be: for Prayer obteineth those effects of things, to which they serue, by Gods Creati∣on and institution: but not

any creating or new concep∣tion of things, to supernatu∣rall vses. For then the Church might aske, that this or that Creature, should be made a Sacrament vnto her. But she should pray without all warrant of Gods will in such a case.

The last Circumstance is the end, which is our further assurance, touching Christ with his benefits bestowed on vs. Where consider first the securitie they giue vs. Secondly, the things they secure to vs, Though Gods word be true, and cannot be made more true in it selfe: yet it may bee made more credible to mee. For there are two things which make a thing spoken, more credible. 1. The qualitie of the Per∣son

speaking. 2. The man∣ner of speaking or affirming any thing. God who is truth nakedly speaking any thing, it is presently credible to my beleefe: but if God doe not simply speake, but solemnly sweare: yea not sweare a thing, but set a seale; the same thing, though it cannot bee more true: yet it is be∣come more credible. For looke as when a sure man promiseth vs any thing, wee doe beleeue it: yet if hee sweare it, giue vs his hand and seale for it, it doth much increase our confidence: so it is here.

2. Now the thing it doth secure vs, is Christ, his bene∣fits,a 1.5 that gift of God. As within the outward shell of a nutte or such like, which we

see, there is a kernell, which wee cannot see; so these signes haue vnder them, in∣uisible graces. Looke as the seales of men are nor set to blankes, but to testamentary euidences, wherein inheri∣tances, legacies, lands, &c. are conueied: so Gods seales are set to his testament, to confirme all that which Christ the Testator hath giuen vnto vs; Now him∣selfe and his benefits, are that which he leaueth vs: see∣ing then these are pictures and seales, euen assuring Christ himselfe to vs: how should we delight to bee in the view of these, and to at∣tend on the receiuing of them.

Louing wiues are desirous often, when their Husbands

trauell to haue the pictures of them. When great Per∣sons doe beginne to make loue to some great Princesse in another land, they send them their picture. Thus Christ our Husband now absent in heauen, and making loue to vs in earth, doth al∣low vs these Sacraments, as his pictures, which looking on by the eye of Faith, wee may see him. Againe had we but any confirmation of Land, to be passed by seale, how would we waite on the houre appointed to such bu∣sines? how much more here, where Christ and all good things in Christ, are assured to vs?

Secondly, let vs rest in the vse of these seales God hath appointed. For all signes of

mens deuising, cannot teach or helpe deuotion, but de∣lude, and breed superstition. Beside, to doe any thing which doth derogate from the seale of Kings, & their prerogatiue therein, wee know how dangerous it is, in Common-wealth: so cer∣tainely, to joyne seales with Gods seales in his Church, is a point will hardly bee an∣swered.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Gen. 17.11.
• c 1.2

  Rom. 4.11.
• d 1.3

  Rom. 6.3.
• e 1.4

  Mat. 21.25.
• a 1.5

  Ioh 4.10