Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What doth this word sacrament signifie?

THis word Sacrament, is deriued of a word that signifieth holy or consecrated, be∣cause it was performed with the adding of an holy or solemne oathe as Festus saith; And therefore signifieth a solemne oath or bond, consecrated with an oath comming betweene, and which was not taken but by some holie thing: whereup∣pon we say, to contend with another by an oath: And Tullie saith that the soldiers were bound by a militarie oath, because they were bound by an oath to performe faithfull seruice and obe∣dience to the Emperour. 2. It signifieth a wager made in iudg∣ment,

or before the high Priest, wherein eyther partie of the plain∣tifes did gage a peece of money, which the partie forfaited, a∣gainst whom the Iudge did pronounce sentence: whereupon Varro said, he which had the day, had his pawne restored vnto him againe.

Now from the first signification, this word Sacrament, is bor∣rowed to signifie holy things, ordained of God in the Church: which word notwithstanding hath sundrie significations. For 1.* 1.1 generally both in the old Latine translation, as also in an∣cient diuines,* 1.2 this word Sacrament, signifieth, in his larger sig∣nification, the same thing which the Grecians call a Mysterie, that is hidden or secret: or as Clemens Alexandrinus taketh it, that he might deride the heathen sacrifices, of a Greeke word sig∣nifiing a most execrable thing, because indeed they were abho∣minable: or else they were called Mysteries of a word that sig∣nifies fables or falsities, or else of another Greeke word which signifies to initiate,* 1.3 or to enter into holy actions, or to con∣secrate, whereof commeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the chiefe ruler of holy things: or else because they must be silent and kept it secret: or as Sui∣das takes it, to shut the mouth, so that a Mysterie is a certaine secret, and hid matter, of a sacred and holy thing; not euerie secret, but an holy mysterie, not to be committed or reuealed to profane men, & such a secret indeed, as is farthest remoo∣ued from the common sense of men. In which signification of a Sacrament or Mysterie the word is vsed Math. 13.13. To you it is giuen to know the Misteries of the kingdome of heauen, to them it is not giuen: where he calleth those things which Christ re∣uealeth to his Church alone Mysteries, And the purpose of God concerning our redemption in Christ, is called a Mysterie, or a Sacrament, as the olde Interpreter translateth it Eph. 1.9. Rom. 16.25. Eph. 3.3. where also the calling of the Gentiles is called a Mysterie, and by the olde Interpreter a Sacrament. And chap. 5.32. The coniunction of Christ, and the Church is called a Mysterie, or as the olde Translator hath it a great Sacrament, which word hath deceiued many, to conclude mariage to be a Sacrament, where as the Apostle speaketh not of mariage, but of the coniunction of Christ and the Church:

So the incarnation of the sonne of God is called, That great my∣stery of godlinesse. 1. Tim. 3.16. And the secret work of our redemp∣tion, a mystery hidden from the beginning of the world. Col. 1.26. & 2. Thess. 2.7. Antichrist is said to worke the Mysterie of in∣iquitie.

2. Ecclesiasticall writers doe improperly and abusiuely referre the word Sacrament vnto external signes of holy things, of which sort there bee many in the word of God, namely many earthly things, which signifie some inuisible and spirituall gift of God as the graine of mustard seedea 1.4, the seedeb 1.5, the pearlec 1.6 and such like, which set out vnto vs the word, and Kingdome of God. In which signification there bee almost infinite Sacramentes: and the worde Mystery and Sacrament may in this signification bee extended to the verie sacrifices and rites of the olde Te∣stament; and so also the coniunction of man and wife may be called a Sacrament of the communion of Christ and the Church.

3. Strictly and specially in a more speciall signification and properly this word Sacrament is referred to that signe of grace, whereby GOD doth, as it were, seale vn∣to vs the benefits of his promises; and in like manner, whereby hee doth, as it were, consecrate, and binde vs to the mutuall testification of our couenant made with him, and that Religion wee owe vnto him.

Whereupon, the word Sacrament, is deriued of a verbe that signifies to consecrate, because wee are, as it were, con∣secrated to GOD by the Sacraments, to the end hee might bee our GOD, and wee might bee his Temple. Which therefore are called mysteries, not that they bee the effecting of miracles, but because they bee Ceremonies, wherein there is a visible representation appointed by Gods ordinance of a secret, heauenly and spiritual thing altogether vn∣knowne to the reason of man naturally, but yet reuealed by God in the true Church: or else as Augustine speaketh, because they bee the signes of things, being one thing indeede, and signifying another.

In which signification the name of a Sacramēt is not to be foūd in

the scripture: for the scripture doth in no place call the supper of the lorde, and baptisme mysteries, and sacraments.

And in this sense, againe the word sacrament is vsed twoe manner of waies. 1. By a Synecdoche for the signe it selfe, or for the outward action of the sacrament onely. 2. In the lawful vse, a sacrament doth comprehend the representation or outwarde signe and also the thing signified, or the inward benefit of grace: for no sacrament can fullie be expressed or vnderstood without a trope, yet the trope must be in the wordes, not in the things or matter. The greeke Fathers call them Symboles or signes, and representations as Peter also.* 1.7 1. Pet. 3.21. calleth our baptisme a representation that is an exampler correspondent to that deliue∣rance which came vnto the church in the flood.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• a 1.4

  Mat, 13 31
• b 1.5

  v, 23
• c 1.6

  v. 46
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉