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SAint Cyprian l. 2. Epi∣stola 1. ad Ianuar. It is ne∣cessary (saith hee) that hee who is Christned, bee anointed, that hauing receiued Chrisme, that is, vnction, hee may bee both the anointed of God, and haue the grace of Christ in him.
Saint Melchiades Pope E∣pistola ad Episc. Hispan; in∣serted in the Canons de Cō∣secr.
d. 5. But these two Sacra∣ments (Baptisme and Confir∣mation) are so vnited, that vn∣lesse it bee by reason of death, they may not bee parted, and the one may not rightly bee giuen without the other—Againe—If the be∣nefite of Regeneration suffice for them, that are readie to die; yet the helpe of Confirmation is neces∣sarie for them that are to liue.
S. Vrban Pope and Mar∣tyr Epistola, ad om. Christia∣nos related in the Canons loco cit. All the faithfull after baptisme must receaue the holy Ghost, by imposition of hands of the Bishop, that they may bee full Christians.
The Councell of Laodi∣cea, Canon. 4. 8. The baptized must after baptisme receiue most holy Chrisme, and bee made par∣takers of the holy kingdome.
Saint Pacian Epistola. 3. How hath your people the holy Ghost, whome an anointed Priest doth not signe? The like had saint Cornelius aboue ci∣ted.
Saint Cyrill Cathechisme 3. mystag. Hauing receiued this guift of holy Chrisme, you are rightly called Christians, making true the naming in the regenera∣tion; For before this grace was giuen you, you were not properly worthie of that name, but going
forward, you are come so farre, as you are made Christians.
The Councell of Orleans Cap. 3. cited in the Canons loco cit. Hee shall neuer bee a Christian, vnlesse hee bee anoin∣ted vvith Episcopall Confirma∣tion.
And why should these ho∣ly Councells and Fathers say that Confirmation is necessa∣rie to Christians, that Christians must bee confirmed; that vvith∣out death Confirmation is not rightly separate from Baptisme: that without Confirmation vvee are not full Christians, not properly Christians, and simply not Christians, vnlesse they
thought, that Confirmation was at least necessarie by ne∣cessitie of precept?
Moreouer, saint Leo, E∣pistola 73. al. 75. greately be∣waileth, that in a place the hallowing of Chrisme had failed, which thing was to bee bewailed in England for many yeares; And the Sea Apostolicke hath bene so loath, that Christians should want Confirmation, that sometimes shee hath giuen leaue to Priests to confirme for want of Bishops, albeit many graue Diuines thinke, that such power cannot bee giuen to Priests; And like∣wise,
in times of Interdict, when shee forbiddeth to mi∣nister extreme vnction, yet shee forbiddeth not Confir∣mation, no more then Bap∣tisme or Confession: which argueth, that shee thinketh Confirmation to bee more necessarie then extreme vn∣ction.
To the former sayings of Fathers wee may add, that Hugo de sanct. Victore (rela∣ted by saint Thomas 3. p. q. 72. art. 8.) affirmeth. It would bee most daungerous, if one should depart out of this life without Cō∣firmation; And though saint
Thomas add, that hee should not bee damned without cō∣tempt; yet neither doth Hu∣go say, that it were daunge∣rous to die with contempt of Confirmation, but without Con∣firmation, which insinuateth a necessitie of Confirmation it selfe; Neither perhaps doth saint Thomas there take Con∣tempt so strictly, as it is distin∣guished from negligence, both for that wee shall say hereaf∣ter, as also because him selfe there saith: This is natures in∣tention, that euery one that is cor∣porally borne, doe come to perfect age; And much more it is Gods in∣tention
to bring all thinges to per∣fection; wherevppon it is said Deutr. 32. Gods workes are per∣fect; And therefore this Sacra∣ment must bee giuen to all; And if it bee Gods intention, that euery one bee confirmed, and that euery one must bee confirmed, this argueth, that euen negligence of this Sa∣crament is daungerous, as wee shall see more hereafter Cap. 6.
Confir∣matiō ne∣cessarie.
Confirma∣tion not to bee se∣parate from Bap∣tisme.
Necessa∣rie.
Christians must bee confirmed.
Must bee cōfirmed.
Must bee cōfirmed.
Not pro∣perly Christians without Confirma∣tion.
Not Chri∣stians.
S. Leo bewaileth want of Confir∣mation.
Daunger to die without Confir∣mation.
Gods in∣tention that wee bee con∣firmed.