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.

Doe the Sacraments giue remission of sins, and doe they conferre or containe grace, and are they ordained to iustifie and to regenerate, or, whether is grace tyed to the Sa∣craments?

No.

1. Because they are the signes, not the causes of grace.

2. That which is proper to God, ought not to be bestowed on the creature.

3. The subiect of grace is not the body, but the spirit.

4. No bodilie thing doth worke vpon spirituall things.

Againe, not by the work done, or as an efficient cause by them selues, or their owne vertue working any thing, or flowing from their essence, as they speake in the schooles: but ministerially, or Instrumentally; yet effectually, so farre forth as they support & nourish our faith.

Not by any inward power or vertue of their owne, but by ver∣tue of the principall agent or worker: in that sence that Paul af∣firmeth the Gospel to be the vertue and power of God to saluation, to euery one that beleeueth. Rom. 1.16. & 1. Tim. 4.16. he saith, that the remedie of the holy Scripture, doth saue a man: not that there is any magicall vertue in the letters, syllables or sound of the words: for the Apostle saith Heb. 4.2, The word profited not them, beeing

not mingled with faith, but because it vseth these meanes, helps, and instruments to worke our saluation. In which sense the Church is said to be sanctified and washed in the lauer of water tho∣rough the word. Ephe. 5.16. Tit. 3.5. Baptisme is called the Lauer of Regeneration & Renonation. And Act. 22.16. Be baptized & washed from thy sins, in calling vpon his name. Hereupon Augustine hath this saying, whence commeth this vertue to the water, that it should touch the bodie,* 1.1 and wash the heart? but that the word causeth it, not because it is spoken, but because it is beleeued.

And, that the grace of God ought not to bee tyed to the out∣ward signes, Peter teacheth, speaking thus of Baptisme. 1, Pet. 3.21. It saueth vs, not that Baptisme, whereby the filthinesse of the flesh is cast away, but whereby it comes to passe that a good conscience ma∣keth request to God, by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ. Cornelius re∣ceiued grace before Baptismea 1.2. For God vseth meanes and in∣struments to worke our saluation, but yet so as hee worketh by his owne proper and inward vertue most freely, when, how, and in whome hee will: and doth not yeelde vp his power and vertue to the outward signes. As also, in that seuen times washing of Naaman the Syrian in Iordan, was not placed the purging of him from his Leprosie, which then the power of GOD alone wrought in himb 1.3. Hence it comes to passe, that some receiue grace without the Sacrament, as Abraham was iustified before Cir∣cumcision; and the Theefe on the Crosse without Baptisme, and the Lords Supper, Some receiue the Sacraments and not grace, because they want faith, as Iudas, of whom Augustine saith; Hee receiued the bread of the Lord, but not that bread which was the Lord. Others receiue both together, as it were by a certaine coniuncti∣on of the thing with the signes, as the faithfull, who take the Supper worthily.

Notes

• * 1.1

  in Ioh. Trac. 80
• a 1.2

  Act. 10.5
• b 1.3

  2. King. 9 ••4