To the second; Of St. Augustine's words, this descrip- BOOK tion following of a sacrament may be gathered; Sacramentum est invisibilis gratiæ, visibilis forma. And this thing, York. that is such visible form or sign of invisible grace in sacraments, we find in scripture, altho' we find not the word sacrament, saving only in the sacrament of matrimony.

To the second; I find in authors this declaration, Sacra- London. mentum est sacræ rei signum. Also, Invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma. Also, Visibilis forma invisibilis gratiæ imaginem gerens et causa existens. And of the verity and goodness of this description or declaration, I refer me to the divines, better acquainted with this matter than I am.

I think that this word sacrament, as it is taken of the old Rochester. authors, hath divers and sundry significations, for sometimes it is extended to all holy signs, sometimes to all mysteries,

sometimes to all allegories, &c.

Thomas Waldensis, who writeth a solemn work de Sacra- Carlisle. mentis, causeth me to say, that this word, sacramentum in communi, is defined of the ancient authors; who after that he had shewed how that Wycliff, and before him Berengarius hath said, that Augustine defineth sacramentum thus: Sacramentum est sacrum signum; and signum in this wise, Signum est res præter speciem quam sensibus, ingerit aliquid aliud ex se faciens in cogitationem venire. He himself, with ancient authors, as he saith, defineth it thus; Sacramentum est invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma, vel, Sacramentum est sacræ rei signum: both these descriptions (saith he) be of the ancient fathers.

bertson.

Sacramentum a vetustioribus, quemadmodum fert Hugo Dr. Rode S. Victore, et Thomas Aquinas, nondum reperiri definitum, nisi quod Augustinus, interdum vocet sacramenta, sacra signa aut signacula, interdum similitudines earum rerum, quarum sunt sacramenta. Et Rabanus, Sacramentum dicitur, quod sub tegumento rerum corporalium, virtus divina secretius salutem eorundem sacramentorum operatur, unde et a secretis virtutibus vel sacris sacramenta dicuntur.

The ancient authors commonly say, That a sacrament is Dr. Cox.

BOOK sacræ rei signum, or sacrosanctum signaculum; but they do not utterly and properly define what it is.

III.

Dr. Day.

Dr. Oglethorp.

Dr. Redmayn.

Dr Edgworth.

Dr. Sym

mons.

The ancient doctors take this word sacramentum diversly, and apply it to many things.

Ex Augustino et aliis colligitur, Sacramentum posse dici, sacræ rei signum, vel, invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma, quanquam hæc posterior definitio non conveniat omnibus sacramentis, scil. tantum septem istis usitatis; sed nec his quoq; ex æquo, cum non æqualem conferant gratiam.

Generally it is taken to signify every secret mystery, and sacramenta be called, sacrarum rerum signa, or, sacra signacula: and as this word sacrament particularly is attributed to the chief sacraments of the church, this definition of a sacrament may be gathered of St. August. Invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma. And also that a sacrament is a mystical or secret work which consisteth ex verbo et elemento. And Cyprian saith, Verborum solemnitas et sacri invocatio nominis, et signa institutionibus apostolicis sacerdotum ministeriis attributa, visibile celebrant sacramentum, rem vero ipsam Spiritus Sanctus format et efficit.

By the ancient authors, sacramentum hath many significations, sometimes it is called a secret counsel, Tob. 12. Sacramentum regis abscondere bonum est. Nebuchadnezzar's dream was called sacramentum, Dan. 2. The mystery of Christ's incarnation, and of our redemption is so called, Ephes. 3. and 1 Tim. 3. so that every secret thing having some privy sense or signification, is called sacramentum, generally extending the vocable: notwithstanding in one signification, sacramentum, accordeth properly to them that be commonly called the seven sacraments; and hath this definition taken of St. August. and others, Invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma, ut ipsius imaginem gerat et quodammodo causa existat.

The ancient authors of divinity use this word sacrament in divers significations, for they call it mysterium; and so the scripture useth it in many places, as 1 Tim. 3. Tobie 12. Wisd. 2. Dan. 2. Eph. 1. and 3. The word sacrament is also used for a figure or a sign of the Old Testament, signi

fying Christ, as the paschal lamb, and the brasen ser- BOOK pent, and divers other holy signs. It is also taken of the holy authors, to be an holy sign, which maketh to the sanc tification of the soul, given of God against sin for our salvation, as it may be gathered of them; for this word sacrament is called by them sacrum signum; but I have not read any express definition common to all sacraments.

sham.

This word sacrament, in the ancient authors, is oft-times Dr. Treused in this general signification, and so (as it is before said) it is a mystery, or secret thing; and sometimes the same word is used as appliable only unto the seven sacraments; and is thus described, A visible form of an invisible grace; and thus also, a thing by the which, under the covering of visible things, the godly power doth work our health.

ton.

To the second I say; that Hugo de Sancto Victore is Dr. Leyghone of the most ancient authors that I ever could perceive took upon him to define or describe a sacrament: howbeit, I suppose, that this common description which the schoolmen use, after the Master of the Sentences, viz. Sacramentum est invisibilis gratiæ visibilis seu sensibilis forma, may be gathered of St. Austin, and divers other ancient authors words, in many places of their works.

I do find no definition plainly set forth in old authors; Dr. Coren. notwithstanding this definition, Invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma, may be gathered out of St. Augustine.

unt.

In secundo articulo conveniunt omnes, sacramentum esse Convenisacræ rei signum. Tresham, Oglethorpus, et Edgworth, dicunt hanc definitionem, Sacramentum est invisibilis gratiæ visibilis forma, his septem convenire. Thurlebeus ait, non convenire omnibus septem, et æque pluribus posse attribui atq; septem.

ment.

In the second they put many descriptions of a sacrament, Agreeas the sign of a holy thing, a visible word, &c. But upon this one definition, A sacrament is a visible form of invisible grace, they do not all agree: for doctors Edgworth, Tresham, and Oglethorp say, That it is applicable only and properly unto the word sacrament, as it signifieth the seven sacraments usually received. My lord elect of Westmin

BOOK ster saith, That it agreeth not unto all the seven, nor yet more specially unto the seven, than unto any other.

III.

Canterbury.

York.

London.

Rochester.

Carlisle.

Dr. Robert

son.

Dr. Cox.

3. Question.

How many sacraments there be by the scripture?
Answers.

THE Scripture sheweth not how many sacraments there be, but incarnatio Christi and matrimonium be called in the scripture mysteria, and therefore we may call them by the scripture sacramenta. But one sacramentum the scripture maketh mention of, which is hard to be revealed fully, as would to God it were, and that is, mysterium iniquitatis, or mysterium meretricis magna et bestia.

To the third; In scripture we find no precise number of

sacraments.

To the third; I find not set forth the express number, with express declaration of this many and no more; nor yet of these expresly by scripture which we use, especially under the name of sacraments, saving only of matrimony.

I think that in the scripture be innumerable sacraments, for all mysteries, all ceremonies, all the facts of Christ, the whole story of the Jews, and the revelations of the Apocalypse, may be named sacraments.

The certain number of sacraments, or mysteries, contained within scripture, cannot be well expressed or assigned; for scripture containeth more than infallibly may be rehearsed.

De istis septem, quæ usitate vocamus sacramenta, nullum invenio nomine sacramenti appellari, nisi matrimonium. Matrimonium esse sacramentum, probat Eckius, Homi. 73. et conferre gratiam, ibid.

There be divers sacraments by the scripture, as in Tobie 12. sacramentum regis, the king's secret. Also Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Dan. 2. is called sacramentum. Incarnatio Christi, sacramentum, Ephes. 3. matrimonium, sacramentum.

III.

Taking for sacraments any thing that this word sacra- BOOK mentum doth signify, there be in scripture a great number of sacraments more than seven.

Dr. Day.

Non habetur determinatus sacramentorum numerus in Dr. Oglethorp. scripturis, sunt enim innumera fere illic, quæ passim vocantur sacramenta; cum omnis allegoria, omneq; mysterium, dicatur sacramentum. Quin et somnia, ac secreta, subinde sacramenta vocantur. Tobie 2. Sacramentum regis abscondere bonum est; et Dan. 2. Imploremus misericordias Dei cœli super sacramento isto, et somnio. Paulus etiam Epist. 2. vocat mysterium incarnationis Christi sacramentum: et in Apoc. 1. vocat sacramentum septem stellarum. Ad hoc præcipue observandum venit, nullum a septem sacramentis receptis hoc nomine appellari, præter solum ma

trimonium.

mayn.

As many as there be mysteries, which be innumerable; Dr. Redbut by scripture, I think, the seven which be named sacraments may principally bear the name.

worth.

Speaking of sacraments generally, they be innumerable Dr. Edgspoken of in scripture; but properly to speak of sacraments, there be but seven that may be so called, of which matrimony is expresly called sacramentum, Ephes. 5. and as I think, in the germane and proper signification of a sacrament; so that the indivisible knot of the man and his wife in one body, by the sacrament of matrimony, is the matter of this sacrament; upon which, as on the literal verity the apostle foundeth this allegorical saying, Ego autem dico in Christo, et in ecclesia; for the mistical sense pre-supposeth a verity in the letter on which that is taken. Six more there be to which the definition doth agree, as manifestly doth appear by the scriptures, with the exposition of the ancient authors.

mons.

Dr. Tre

In the scripture there is no certain number of sacraments. Dr. SymI find no more of the seven, called expresly sacraments, but only matrimony; but extending the name of sacrament sham. in his most general acception, there are in scripture a great number of sacraments, whereof the apostle saith, Si noverint mysteria omnia, &c.