A04463:484
Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls crossCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse
Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls cross, by the reverend father John Jewel late Bishop of Salisbury. Whereunto is added a short treatise of the sacraments, gathered out of other his sermons, made upon that matter, in his cathedral church at SalisburyCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse, by the reuerend father Iohn Ievvel late Bishop of Salisburie. Whereunto is added a short treatise of the sacraments, gathered out of other his sermons, made vpon that matter, in his cathedrall church at Salisburie
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Such opinion had the ancient learned fathers, and such reverent words they used, when they entreated of the Sacraments, For, it is not man, but God which worketh by them: yet is it not the creature of bread or water, but the soul of man, that receiveth the grace of God. These corruptible creatures need it not: we have need of Gods grace. But this is a phrase of speaking. For the power of God, the grace of GOD, the presence of the Trinity, the holy Ghost, the gift of God, are not in the water, but in us. And we were not made, because of the sacraments: but the sacraments were ordained for our sake.
Suche opinion had the auncient learned fathers, and such reuerent wordes they vsed, when they entreated of the Sacraments, For, it is not man, but God which worketh by them: yet is it not the creature of bread or water, but the soule of man, that receiueth the grace of God. These corruptible creatures neede it not: we haue need of Gods grace. But this is a phrase of speaking. For the power of God, the grace of GOD, the presence of the Trinitie, the holy Ghost, the gift of God, are not in the water, but in vs. And wee were not made, because of the sacramentes: but the sacraments were ordeined for our sake.
Now, for the number of Sacraments, how many there be: it may seem somewhat hard to say, & that it cannot be spoken without offence. ⟨image 136⟩For mens judgments herein have swerved very much: some have said, there are two: others three: others four: and others, that there are seven Sacraments. This difference of opinions standeth rather in terms, then in the matter. For a Sacrament in the manner of speaking which the Church useth, & in the writings of the holy scripture, & of ancient fathers sometimes signifieth properly every such Sacrament which Christ hath ordained in the new Testament, for which he hath chosen some certain element, and spoken special words to make it a Sacrament, and hath annexed thereto the promise of grace: sometimes it is used in a general kind of taking, and so every mystery set down to teach the people, and many things that indeed and by special property be no sacraments, may nevertheless pass under the general name of a Sacrament.