Two very learned sermons of M. Beza, together with a short sum of the…Two very lerned sermons of M. Beza, togither with a short sum of the…

¹A The outward matter we count the signs themselves, to wit, water in baptism, bread and wine in the Lords supper, together with the ceremonies ordained by Christ, as his word testifieth, which also themselves do truly signify matters of great weight, and altogether heavenly. We have already often times said,² that not that only is termed of us, the inward matter, or matter it self of the sacrament, whatsoever is derived to us from Christ, but principally Christ himself, with whom it is meet that we be made one, before we can draw or fetch any thing from him.³ And in deed in baptism there is set out unto us the true and very blood of the Lord, as a laver or fountain, with which blood being washed, ⟨p. 135⟩we are more and more ingrafted into Christ, and buried with him.⁴ And in the supper, the body and blood of the same Christ is given to us, and that in several signs, as our true meat, and true drink into life everlasting.⁵ There is then one inward matter of the word alone, or by it self, and the sacraments also, annected thereto, that is to say, Christ himself, with all his benefits, to the partaking whereof we are called. But notwithstanding some difference there is, to wit, according to more and less, as they usually say in schools. First,⁶ because that when the sacraments are joined to the simple word or word alone, then it necessarily followeth, that there is a more plentiful declaration of Gods good will towards us, and look by how much there are more objects in number, and they likewise more evident, by so much the more vehemently or earnestly they do move and stir us up, or at leastwise ought so to do. Secondly,⁷ because although the word alone propounded generally unto all, be afterwards by the power of faith, applied unto every particular faithful person: yet this is not there