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.

Wherein doe the word and Sacraments agree?

In the Efficient cause, for the same person is the Authour of the promise of grace, and of the Sacraments, to wit, the sonne of God, the head, King, Doctor, and Priest of the Church: and in the instrumentall causes, for the selfe same ministers of the word be also the disposers of the Sacramentsg 1.1.

2 In the matter intelligible, or the principall subiect: for the same thing is promised in the word, and the lawfull vse of the Sacraments, the same Christ with his benefits of saluation. Ther∣fore as the Gospell testifieth, those which turne to God are wa∣shed, and sanctified by the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our God. 1. Cor. 6.11. And that they are begotten by the Gospell, and borne anewe by the worde of the liuing God. 1. Corinth. 4.15.h 1.2. And that Iesus Christ is that breade of life. Iohn. 6.35. So the sacramentes doe testifie that those which are baptised into Iesus Christ, are baptised into his death,k 1.3 and are saued by the washing of the new birth. 1. And the bread which wee breake is the communion of the body of Christ. 1. Cor. 10.16.

3 In the forme, manner and Instrument wherby we receiue the thing to saluation for the word and sacraments profit none

but those which haue, or shall haue faithk 1.4.

4 In the end common to them both. For both the word and the sacraments are meanes, whereby the sonne of God dooth teach, and gather the Church vnto himselfe, and doth in this life communicate himselfe, and all his benefits to them that shall be saued: yet so, as he is able without eyther of them to worke in the hearts of the godly, so often and when it pleaseth him.

5 In the effects: For as the word of life is to the godly the sauour of life vnto life, to the vngodly the sauour of death vnto death. 2. Cor. 2.16. So the Sacraments in themselues are to saluation to them that beleeue, but vnto the vnbeleeuers they turne into iudg∣ment, and condemnationa 1.5. Euen as a sweet oyntment is health∣full to the doue, but it is present death to the flye. And as the seed of the word preached: so the vse of the sacrament, doth not presently bring forth his fruit, but in that time which is appoin∣ted of God.

6 Lastly, as the holy Ghost doth begin and strengthen faith by the word: so also by the sacraments he doth stirre vp, and confirme the same. Out of all which followeth that there is such a coniunction, and agreement of the outward and inward word, as there is of the earthly signes, and heauenly things.

Notes

• g 1.1

  Mat. 28.1 1 Cor. 4.19
• h 1.2

  1 Pet 1.23 1 Rom. 6.3 Tit 3.5
• k 1.3

  Ioh. 3.33 36 R••••. ••4, 23 He••. 11, 6 Habac, 2, 4
• k 1.4

  Ioh. 3.33 36
• a 1.5

  1. Cor. 11.29.