Concerning that which we call sign, we mean not by that word a bare sign, naked and empty, as a thing represented or painted by a ⟨p. 64⟩Painter, or some other simple memorial, but we understand of signs which representeth to us most great and excellent things, declared effectually in the lively word of God, as hereafter we shall declare. Also in these Sacraments be offered spiritually and veritably those things which be outwardly represented by them. Moreover, it is to be noted that we do comprehend under the name of signs, not only the material things of the Sacraments, as the water of Baptism, the bread and w[…] in the supper, but beside the word joined with the signs (which declareth the will of God in us, being preached and expounded plainly) we understand furthermore by the name of signs, the Ceremonies ordained of God in all this mystery, the which have no less signification then the material things, to th• which Ceremonies it is not lawful for man to join or put to any new things, neither to diminish without sacrilege: I speak of those[…] ⟨image 87⟩spiritual of their own nature, but by the ordinance of Jesus Christ. For water of his nature is made to wash when we will wet us with it. Bread and wine is to nourish the body being eaten & drunken. But in the Sacraments these things have another purpose clean contrary, as we shall say▪ hereafter We may use a similitude for it better understanding hereof. Take ware which is fastened to a writing or public instrument, and it differeth not from other Ware of it self, but only because of the use to the which it is appointed, that is to say, to serve for a testimony that the instrument is effectual and available, the which it hath not of nature, but by the ordinance of man. But concerning the Sacraments they be ordained of God for a more excellent covenant.
COncernyng that whyche we call signe, we mean not by that word a bare signe, naked and empty, as a thynge represented or paynted by a ⟨p. 64⟩Paynter, or some other simple memorial, but we vnderstand of signes which representeth to vs moste great and excellent thinges, declared effectuallie in the liuely word of God, as hereafter we shall declare. Also in these Sacraments bée offered spirituallie and veritablie those thinges which be outwardlie represented by them. Moreouer, it is to be noted that we doo comprehende vnder the name of signes, not onely the materiall thinges of the Sacraments, as the water of Baptisme, the breade and w〈…〉 in the supper, but beside the word ioyned with the signes (which declareth the wyll of God in vs, being preached and expounded plainlie) we vnderstand furthermore by the name of sygnes, the Ceremonies ordayned of God in all this mysterie, the which haue no lesse signification then the materyall thinges, to th• which Ceremonies it is not lawfull for man to ioyne or put to any newe thinges, neither to diminish without sacriledge: I speake of those〈…〉 ⟨image 87⟩spirituall of theyr owne nature, but by the ordinance of Iesus Christ. For water of his nature is made to wash when we wyll wette vs with it. Breade and wyne is to nourishe the bodye beynge eaten & dronken. But in the Sacramentes these thinges haue another purpose clean contrary, as we shal say▪ hereafter We may vse a similitud for yt better vnderstāding hereof. Take ware which is fastened to a writing or publike instrument, and it differeth not from other Ware of it selfe, but onelye because of the vse to the which it is appointed, that is to saye, to serue for a testimonie that the instrument is effectuall and auaileable, the whiche it hath not of nature, but by the ordinaunce of man. But concernyng the Sacramentes they be ordeyned of God for a more excellent couenaunt.
