M. Thou hast hithervnto spoken of the administration of the word, the which is administered by this ministry, but thou hast yet said nothing of the administration of the sacraments, nor yet of the discipline of the Church, which are the two other parts of the ministry, whereof thou hast made mention.

M. Thou hast hithervnto spoken of the administration of the word, the which is administred by this ministerie, but thou hast yet sayde nothing of the administration of the sacramentes, nor yet of the discipline of the Church, which are the two other partes of the ministerie, whereof thou hast made mention.

P. Al these two administrations depend of the first. For the Sacraments are as dependences of the preaching of the word of God.

P. Al these two administratiōs depēd of ye first. For ye Sacramēts are as dependances of the preaching of the worde of God.

M. And what is the discipline?

The fifteenth Dialogue is of the sacraments of baptism, and of the Lords Supper.

The fiftenth Dialogue is of the sacramēts of baptisme, and of the Lords Supper.

Of the Sacraments and of the number of them.

MATTHEW. ¹Seeing that we are come upon the matter of Sacraments, show me now for the first, what thou meanest by Sacrament.

MATHEVV. ¹SEing that we are come vppon the matter of Sacraments, shewe me now for ye first, what thou meanest by Sacrament.

1. 1Rom. 4. b,

P. A visible sign ordained of Jesus Christ as a seal, to confirm us the better in the saith of the promises, the which god hath made us, of our salvation in him.

P. A visible signe ordeyned of Iesus Christ as a seale, to confirme vs the better in the saith of the promises, the which god hath made vs, of our saluatiō in him.

M. How many Sacraments hath he ordained?

M. How many Sacraments hath he ordeyned?

P. There are but two which may be called properly by that name, and that may be accounted for common Sacraments, generally of the whole Church, as the true nature of the Sacraments of the same requireth.

P. There are but two which may be called properly by that name, and that may be accoumpted for common Sacramentes, generally of the whole Churche, as the true nature of the Sacramentes of the same requireth.

M. Which be these two sacraments?

M. Whiche be these two sacramentes?

P. That of baptism and the supper.

P. That of baptisme and the supper.

M. For what cause did Jesus Christ ordain neither moe nor fewer?

M. For what cause did Iesus Christe ordeyne neyther moe nor fewer?

P. Thou must understand that if Jesus Christ had ordained so many Sacraments as we receive benefits and graces of him, to represent the same unto us by them, their number should be infinite, and in that sort should he engender confusion in mens understanding, which are rude and gross. And therefore he was contented to ordain a small number, by the which it hath pleased him to represent unto us his principal benefits, under the which men may comprehend and bring all the rest.

P. Thou must vnderstande that if Iesus Christ had ordeyned so many Sacramēts as we receiue benefits and graces of him, to represente the same vnto vs by them, their number shoulde be infinite, and in that sorte should he engender confusion in mens vnderstanding, which are rude and grosse. And therefore he was contented to ordeyne a small number, by the which it hath pleased him to represent vnto vs his principall benefites, vnder the which mē may comprehende and bring all the rest.

M. Seeing there is such danger in it as thou hast said, could not he well have comprehended in only Sacrament that which he hath comprehended in two?

M. Seing there is suche daunger in it as thou hast sayde, coulde not he well haue comprehended in onely Sacrament that which he hath cōprehended in two?

P. He could well have done it, if it had so pleased him. But as he would on the one ⟨p. 310⟩side provide for the rudeness of our understandings, in sparing them in that that he would not lode them with great numbers of Sacraments, even so would he succour our infirmity by the small nun ber which he hath ordained for us, to the end that we mought more specially know in two Sacraments that which we could not so easily & so properly comprehend in one.

P. He could well haue done it, if it had so pleased him. But as he woulde on the one ⟨p. 310⟩side prouide for the rudenesse of our vnderstandings, in sparing them in that that he would not lode them with great numbers of Sacramentes, euen so woulde he succoure our infirmitie by the small nū ber which he hath ordeyned for vs, to the end that we mought more specially know in two Sacramēts yt which we could not so easilie & so properly cōprehend in one.