A68595:472
A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith
A brief and pithy sum of the Christian faith made in form of a confession, with a confutation of all such superstitious errors, as are contrary thereunto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of French by R.F.A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.
London: printed by Richard Serll, 1565
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ Of the extreme unction called annealing.
¶ Of the extreme vnction called anealing.
Among other things, whereunto a past or is bound, we do count the visitation of the sick, whom he ought to comfort & to assure them of their salvation as is required, & according to the contents of the word of God. Now the apostles & other of the ancient Church, so long as the gift of miracles endured, have used in their visitations, not only this ceremony of laying on of hands but also oil, wherewith they anointed the sicki, not after form of medicine, nor yet to make an ordinary sacrament in the Church. For they themselves never used it, and yet much less did they bless or worship the oil, or to cross it, or to join it to certain virtues: and in brief, nothing less then to conjure or charm it. But to assure the sick person, certainly by this visible sign and ceremony. But these men on the contrary they come never to the sick, but as do the ⟨image 165⟩Ravens to the carrion, and also know well that the gift of healing by miracles was not given to the Church[…] for a certain time. Nevertheless they have retained and kept the sygn• and mark, yea, as necessary to salvation for souls abolishing the benefit of Jesus Christ, after they have utterly disguised it, with a thousand manner of apish plays at the least. For the Apostles used not the oil, but in those which they healed miraculously. Therefore these ought to be ashamed, not only to use as they falsely allege as the Apostles did, but use it in those which be out of all bope of life: by reason whereof they call extreme unction, or the last anointing.