JOIAD. We must speak more reverently of the sacraments. None of the faithful is so alligated and bound to the elements, and outward things, that they may condemn him if they be omitted and left in necessity: for the blood of Jesus Christ, hath cleansed him. I do call necessity, as when a child departeth before baptism, or when a man, being converted to the faith, is afore he can be baptized, taken to martyr do•n, which thing was often times done in the primitive church, for unto him the cross was in stead of baptism, wherefore the ancient fathers did call it the baptism of blood. Howbeit no man ought to neglect or contemn the order that Christ hath instituted, nor to despise baptism, if he may have it. If he contemneth or doth neglect to receive baptism when he may have it, he is no christian, but the disciple of Julianus & Porphirius For if baptism were unprofitable, Christ would not have instituted it. All things that Christ hath given and left unto us, are excellent, holy, and profitable. ⟨image 28⟩Ergo, baptism is not only profitable unto us, but also most necessary: Farther more, we do add this also, that baptism touching the matter, is water, and yet it ought not to be contemned and cast away, or esteemed as the common water of the well. For the water is only part of it, and a certain sign.1 But the whole action containeth a great mystery, and an honourable sacrament. Wherefore it was called by the holy fathers, a purging, & remission of since, also, regeneration or renewing, and other like names. Not that the water hath the strength to purge or renew. For then Simon of Samaria, Judas, Himeneus, Phyletus, and other false brethren and hypocrites had been cleansed and renewed, for then were washed with the water of Baptism. But it is plain and manifest, that they were not purged inwardly, but defiled with all iniquity and wickedness, that they were not the children of god, but the children of the devil. When therefore these godly & spiritual things are attributed unto baptism, they be not attributed unto the outward washing, but to the whole action, which containeth the faith of the minister, of the church & of him that is baptized, also the grace, election & promise ⟨image 28⟩of god. It is then chiefly attributed unto ye, which is signified by the pouring on of the water.
IOIAD. We must speake more reuerently of the sacramentes. None of the faithfull is so alligated and bound to the elementes, and outward thinges, that they may condemne him if they be omitted and left in necessitie: for the bloude of Iesus Christ, hath clensed him. I do call necessitie, as when a chyld departeth before baptism, or whē a man, beyng conuerted to the faith, is afore he can be baptyzed, taken to martyr do•n, which thing was often times done in ye primitiue churche, for vnto hym the crosse was in steade of baptisme, wherefore the auncient fathers did call it ye baptisme of bloud. Howbeit no man ought to neglecte or contempne the order that Christ hath instituted, nor to despyse baptisme, if he may haue it. If he contempneth or doth neglect to receiue baptisme when he may haue it, he is noo christian, but ye disciple of Iulianus & Porphirius For if baptism were vnprofitable, Christ would not haue instituted it. All thinges that Christe hath gyuen and lefte vntoo vs, are excellente, holye, and profytable. ⟨image 28⟩Ergo, baptism is not onely profitable vnto vs, but also moste necessarye: Farther more, we do adde thys also, that baptism touchyng ye mattyer, is water, and yet it ought not to be cōtemned and cast awai, or estemed as the comon water of ye well. For the water is onely parte of it, and a certayne signe.1 But the wholle action cō teyneth a greate mysterye, and an honorable sacrament. Wherfore it was called by ye holy fathers, a purging, & remission of synnes, also, regeneracion or renuyng, and other lyke names. Not that ye water hath ye strength to purge or renewe. For then Symon of Samaria, Iudas, Himeneus, Phyletus, and other false brethern and hipocrites had bene clensed and renued, for then were wasshed with the water of Baptism. But it is playne and manyfeste, yt they were not purged inwardely, but defiled with all iniquitye and wyckednesse, that they were not the chyldren of god, but the chyldren of the diuell. Whē therfore these godly & spiritual things are attributed vnto baptisme, they be not attributed vnto ye outward wasshing, but to ye wholl action, which conteyneth the faith of ye minister, of ye church & of him yt is baptized, also ye grace, election & promise ⟨image 28⟩of god. It is then chiefly attributed vnto ye, which is signifyed by ye pouryng on of ye water.
- 1The whole action of baptism containeth great mysteriesThe whol action of baptisme conteyneth great mysteryes
