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ACRAMENTS ordained of Chrift, be not only but rather

Sbadges or tokens of Christian mens profession:

they be certain fure witnesses and effectual figns of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invifibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him.

There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the gospel, that is to say, baptifm and the Supper of the Lord.

Thofe five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extream Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the gofpel, being fuch as have grown, partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are ftates of life allowed in the fcriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with baptifm and the Lord's fupper, for that they have not any vifible fign or ceremony ordained of God.

The Sacraments were not ordained of Chrift to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in fuch only as worthily receive the fame, they have a wholfom effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as St. Paul faith.

This Article contains Ten Propofitions.

1. Sacraments ordained by Chrift be Badges or Tokens of Chriftian Mens Profeffion.

2. Sacraments ordained of Chrift be certain fure Witneffes, and effectual Signs of Grace and God's Will towards us, by the which he doth

work

work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but alfo ftrengthen and confirm our Faith in him.

3. There are two Sacraments ordained of Chrift our Lord in the Gofpel, that is to fay, Baptifm and the Supper of the Lord.

4. Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to fay, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extream Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel. 5. Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extream Unction, have grown partly of the Corrupt following of the Apoftles, partly are States of Life allowed in the Scriptures. 6. Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extream Unction, have not like Nature of Sacraments with Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 7. Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extream Unction, have not any visible Sign or Ceremony ordained of God.

8. The Sacraments were not ordained of Chrift to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we fhould duly use them.

9. The Sacraments in fuch only as worthily receive the fame, have a wholfom Effect or Operation.

10. They that receive the Sacraments unworthily, purchase to themfelves Damnation, as St. Paul faith..

The Word rather, in this Place, and in the Twenty eighth and Twenty ninth Articles, is expreffed in the Latin, not by immo, as in the Thirteenth and Twenty fecond Articles, but by potius, which is manifeftly a Comparative. However, the Context

in all these Places fhews,that the Church did not intend to exprefs her felf doubtfully; but fhe roundly and directly affirms the refpective Propofitions. Nay, the Phrafe but rather being oppos'd, in this and the Twenty eighth Article, to not only, muft needs fignify the fame as but also.

Touching the Nature of Sacraments in general, fee the First Queftion of Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus.

The First Propofition. See the Third and Fourth Questions of Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus.

The Second Propofition. See the Fifth Queftion of the fame Locus, and Article 27. Prop. 2. and Article 28. Prop. 2, 3.

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The Third Propofition. See the Confutation of Quakerifm, Chap. 18, 19, &c.

The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Propofitions. See the Thirty firft Queftion of Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, and the Fourteenth and Twentieth Chapters of the Second Part of the Confutation of Popery. You may perufe them in the following Order. Touching Confirmation, read Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, Queft. 31. Sect. 1-----10.

Touching Penance, read the Confutation of Popery, Part 2. Chap. 14. Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, Queft. 31. Sect. 11--------26.

Touching Orders, read Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, Queft. 31. Sect. 34------39.

Touching Matrimony, read Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, Queft. 31. Sect. 40------44.

Touching extreme Unction, read the Confutation of Popery, Part 2. Chap. 25. and Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus, Queft. 31. Sect. 27-------33.

The Eighth Propofition. By the Word Sacraments, in this and the Two following Propofitions, the

Church

129 Church means the Sacramental Elements: And fhe manifeftly ftrikes at that known Practice of the Papifts, who elevate the Hoft, and carry it about to be feen and ador'd by the People. But the Papifts. themselves never used to carry about or elevate the Element of Baptism, that I know of; and therefore I can't tell how our Church happen'd to express her self in the Plural Number. However, the Propofition is certainly true with refpect to the Elements of both the Sacraments. For the Defign of the Sacramental Elements is to be learnt from Scripture, which faies nothing of our gazing on them, or carrying them about. I confefs, if the Do&trin of Tranfubftantiation were true, there would be a good Reafon in the nature of the thing (and confequently a good Argument from the very Inftitution) for elevating and carrying about the Hoft, that the People might not only gaze (or behold it) but also adore it: But fince that Doctrin is monftroufly falfe, there can be no Pretenfe for fuch Customs. The Ninth Propofition. See the Eighth Question of Turretin's Locus Decimus nonus.

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The Tenth Propofition is founded, with refpect to the Lord's Supper, on St. Paul's Words, 1 Cor. II. 29. and the Reafon of the thing proves the fame with refpect to Baptifm. But tho' our Church quotes St. Paul's Words in delivering her Sentiments concerning the unworthy Partakers of both the Sacraments; yet it must not be imagined, that fhe understands this Text of St. Paul of both the Sacraments. She only applies his Expreffion, Damnation, to the unworthy Partakers of Baptifm, as well as of the Lord's Supper. And that fhe may adapt St. Paul's Expreffion to both the Sacraments, fhe changes the Verbs, faying, that the unworthy Partakers do (not eat and drink, but) purchase to themfelves Damnation,

1

The

The TWENTY SIXTH ARTICLE.

Of the Unworthiness of the Minifters, which hinder not the Effects of the Sacraments.

A

ever

LTHOUGH in the visible Church the evil be mingled with the good, and fometime the evil have chief authority in the miniftration of the word and facraments: yet forafmuch as they do not the fame in their own name, but in Chrift's, and do minifter by his commiffion and authority, we may use their ministry, both in hearing the word of God, and in the receiving of the facraments. Neither is the effect of Chrift's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from fuch, as by faith and rightly do receive the facraments miniftred unto them, which be effectual, because Christ's inftitution and promise, although they be miniftred by evil men.

Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the difcipline of the church, that enquiry be made of evil minifters, and that they be accufed by thofe that have knowledge of their offences and finally being found guilty, by just judgment, be depofed.

This Article contains Five Propofitions.

1. In the visible Church the Evil be ever mingled with the Good, and fometime the Evil have chief Authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments.

2. Those evil Men who minifter the Word and Sacraments, do not the fame in their own Name, but in Chrift's, and do minifter by his Commiffion and Authority.

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