The Sum of Christian Religion

¹THAT we may know what Sacraments properly are, the name it self of Sacrament is first to be considered. Among the ancient Romans this word, Sacrament, signified a solemn form of an oath taken in war, which they called a military Sacrament, so called of Sacrando, that is, of sacring or consecrating them, because by that oath every one was consecrated or destined to this captain, and not to any other to serve him. Hereof it is that some will have these ceremonies, instituted by God, therefore to be so called, for that as soldiers did oblige and bind themselves by that military Sacrament unto their captain, so we bind our selves unto our captain Christ, by a solemn oath, in the presence of god, Angels and men. This truly is not unapt or unmeet metaphor: but yet I think rather that the original of this name came from the old Latin Translations, in which wheresoever the word mystery is used in the new Testament, for the same they commonly in Latin put the word Sacramentum. Now mystery cometh from a Greek verb, [Greek or Hebrew], which signifieth, to institute, instruct, or initiate one in holy matters, or matters of religion. But that Greek verb, [Greek or Hebrew], is derived from another which is, [Greek or Hebrew], which signifieth to shut, because (as Eustathius saith) they, who were initiated or entered in holy rites, were to shut their mouth, & not to utter those things which were secret. Now a mystery is said to be, either a secret thing it self, or the sign of a secret thing, or that which hath a secret signification, which none understand but they who are initiated in holy rites. By a sign, we understand an external and corporal thing and action, or a ceremony instituted and ordained by God, which betokeneth a certain internal thing and spiritual. Which the Grecians call a mystery; and is otherwise called of Divines ⟨p. 695⟩a Sacrament. And some such signs god always would have to be extant in his Church, whereby the good will of God towards men might be recorded and made known, that men of the other side might declare and show their faith towards God, and other duties of piety and godliness.

¹THAT we may know what Sacramentes properly are, the name it selfe of Sacrament is first to be considered. Among the auncient Romanes this word, Sacrament, signified a solemne forme of an oath taken in warre, which they called a militarie Sacrament, so called of Sacrando, that is, of sacring or consecrating them, because by that oath euerie one was consecrated or destined to this captaine, and not to any other to serue him. Heereof it is that some will haue these ceremonies, instituted by God, therefore to be so called, for that as souldiours did oblige and binde themselues by that military Sacrament vnto their captaine, so wee bind our selues vnto our captaine Christ, by a solemne oath, in the presence of god, Angels and men. This truely is not vnapt or vnmeete metaphor: but yet I thinke rather that the original of this name came from the olde Latine Translations, in which wheresoeuer the worde mysterie is vsed in the new Testament, for the same they commonly in Latine put the woorde Sacramentum. Now mysterie commeth from a Greeke verbe, , which signifieth, to institute, instruct, or initiate one in holy matters, or matters of religion. But that Greeke verb, , is deriued from another which is, , which signifieth to shut, because (as Eustathius saith) they, who were initiated or entred in holy rites, were to shut their mouth, & not to vtter those thinges which were secret. Nowe a mystery is said to be, either a secret thing it selfe, or the signe of a secret thing, or that which hath a secret signification, which none vnderstand but they who are initiated in holy rites. By a signe, wee vnderstand an externall and corporall thing and action, or a ceremony instituted and ordained by God, which betokeneth a certaine internall thing and spirituall. Which the Grecians call a mysterie; and is otherwise called of Diuines