The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Now with like or rather more brevity, you shall hear how many sacraments there be, ⟨p. 279⟩that were instituted by our Saviour Christ, and are to be continued, and received of every Christian in due time and order, and for such purpose as our saviour Christ willed them to be received. And as for the number of them, if they should be considered according to the exact signification of a sacrament, namely for the visible signs, expressly commanded in the new Testament, whereunto is annexed the promise of free forgiveness of our sin, and of our holiness and joining in Christ: there be but two, namely Baptism, and the supper of the Lord. For although absolution hath the promise of forgiveness of sin: yet by the express word of the new Testament, it hath not this promise annexed and tied to the visible sign, which is imposition of hands. For this visible sign (I mean laying on of hands) is not expressly commanded in the new Testament to be used in absolution, as the visible signs in baptism and the Lords supper are: and therefore absolution is no such sacrament as baptism and the Communion are. And though the ordering of ministers hath his visible sign and promise: yet it lacks the promise of remission of sin, as all other sacraments besides do. Therefore neither it, nor any other sacrament else, be such sacraments as Baptism and the Communion are. But in a general acception, the name of a Sacrament may be attributed to any thing whereby an holy thing is signified. In which understanding of the word, the ancient writers have given this name, not only to the other ⟨p. 280⟩five, commonly of late years taken and used for supplying the number of the seven sacraments: ¹but also to divers and sundry other ceremonies, as to oil, washing of feet, and such like, not meaning thereby to repute them as sacraments, in the same signification that the two forenamed sacraments are. And therefore saint Augustine weighing the true signification and exact meaning of the word, writing to Januarius, & also in the third book of christian doctrine, affirmeth that the sacraments of the Christians, as they are most excellent in signification, so are they most few in number, and in both places maketh mention expressedlye of two, the sacrament of baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.