Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 2.djvu/176

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THE NESTORIANS AND THEIR RITUALS.

CHAPTER XXIX.

OF THE SACRAMENTS.

"Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's goodwill towards us, by the which He doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in Him.

"There are two sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.

"Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.

"The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul saith."—Article XXV.

That the Sacraments are not bare signs.

§ 1. "Our blessed Lord in His sacraments has given us the medicine of life for our death; and, behold, this medicine is dispensed in the Church. Come, therefore, ye who are dead, draw near, partake of it, and live." From the service appointed in the Khudhra for the fourth Friday of the Sanctification of the Church.

§ 2. "Sing praises, holy Church, to the Bridegroom Who hath affianced thee, Who hath taken thee into His wedding chamber, and hath given thee His sacraments as pledges of the pardon of Thy children, and Who hath purified and sanctified