The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reverend father, M. John Calvin, compendiously…The institutions of Christian religion, written by the reuerend father, M. Iohn Caluin, compendiously…

32 Fourthly, he rebuketh the Ceremonies, whereby Deacons at the first were ordained.

32 Fourthly, hée rebuketh the Ceremonies, whereby Deacons at the first were ordained.

33 Moreover Subdeacons. And concludeth of all in general, that the holy Ghost is not included by such foolishness: and for that cause they deserve not the name of Sacraments.

33 Moreouer Subdeacōs. And cōcludeth of all in general, that ye holy Ghost is not included by such foolishnes: and for that cause they deserue not the name of Sacraments.

34 The last is Matrimony: that is no Sacrament. And the better to prove it, first he taketh away their reasons, and proveth that many Sacraments would ensue, if a man might reason as they do: they say it is a good and holy ordinance of God, therefore a Sacrament, so are all honest occupations, yet no Sacraments: they say, it is a sign of a holy thing, that is of the spiritual conjoining of Christ with the Church: Hereby may many Sacraments arise, for ⟨image 274⟩Paul sayeth, as one Star differeth from an other in brightness,¹ so shall the resurrection of the dead be: there is one sacrament. Christ sayeth, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed:² there is an other Sacrament, the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven: there is the third. The lord shall feed the flock as a shepherd: the fourth. The Lord shall go forth as a Giant. the fifth. So many parables, so many Sacraments: yea, and theft must be a Sacrament also. It is good so oft as we see a Vine, to call to mind, which Christ sayeth, I am a Vine, ye are the branches, my Father is the Vinedresser. And so oft as we see a shepherd with his flock coming towards us,