The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

Thirdly, The end why God doth give them, is, to be¹ not Signs only, but Seals and Pledges for the persuasion of our hearts, and to confirm and assure unto us those spiritual and heavenly things, which already ⟨p. 361⟩we have and do enjoy, that is to say, Christ himself, and consequently, Justification and Sanctification, and withal Salvation through him, as the Apostle teacheth, Rom. 4. 11. After, he received the Sign of Circumcision, as a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had when he was uncircumcised, Acts 10. 47. Can any man keep water away, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghost aswell as we? From whence we gather a noble use of the holy Sacraments proper to the faithful: for where the visible and outward Sign is common unto all, yet being to other but bare and naked Signs, dead and fruitless Ceremonies, that profit nothing, because they are not mixed with Faith in those that do receive them: in the faithful they seal up and ratify the very substance and effect of the Grace signified, the Holy Ghost performing that in truth within us, which the outward Ceremony, joined with the preaching of the Word, representeth to our eyes.

Thirdly, The end why God doth giue them, is, to be¹ not Signes onely, but Seales and Pledges for the perswasion of our hearts, and to confirme and assure vnto vs those spirituall and heauenly things, which alreadie ⟨p. 361⟩wee haue and doe enioy, that is to say, Christ himselfe, and consequently, Iustification and Sanctification, and withall Saluation through him, as the Apostle teacheth, Rom. 4. 11. After, he receiued the Signe of Circumcision, as a Seale of the Righteousnesse of the Faith which hee had when he was vncircumcised, Acts 10. 47