A defence of the Apology of the Church of England containing an answer to…A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to…

The sound, and true Doctrine, which the Catholic Church holdeth, and believeth touching this point, is this:¹ There be seven Sacraments, in which, under cover of visible things, the^* Power of God worketh mans health. They be these: Baptism, Confirmation, the Sacrament of the altar, Penance, extreme Unction, Order, Wedlock. And these so we call Sacraments, as nevertheless we acknowledge the name of Sacrament may be extended to many other things. That it be known what a Sacrament is, this word Sacrament signifieth sometime a holy thing,³ sometime the sign of a holy thing instituted by God.⁴ As it is taken for a sign only, so is it found generally, not only in the New Law, but also in the Old Law. But in the New Law these signs after a Peculiar, and Special manner be called Sacraments, which do not only signify a holy thing, but also do sanctify and make holy those to whom they be adhibited, being such as by institution of Christ contain grace in them, and Power to sanctify.⁵ Whereof a Sacrament is by the best learned divines defined to be a visible sign of invisible grace,⁶ so as it bear the image of it,* and be cause of the same. For the plain understanding of this Definition, how a Sacrament beareth the form, sign, or image of invisible grace, it appeareth evidently in Baptism, where washing of the body showeth the cleansing of the soul. Also in the Sacrament of the Altar,^* where the forms of Bread and Wine out wardly represent the spiritual nourishing of the soul. The like appeareth in other Sacraments.

The sounde, and true Doctrine, whiche the Catholike Churche holdeth, and beleueth touching this point, is this:¹