Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Seven Sacraments, not only to signify, but also to produce and operate what they signify.
The Sacraments are Symbols of the Grace of God, who sanctifies our Souls, and gives them all the Christian Virtues: The first of all these Sacraments is Baptism, which qualifies us to be Partakers of all the others; and ’twas instituted like all the other Sacraments by our Lord Jesus Christ: ’Tis impossible to be a Christian, or to hope for Life everlasting, without being baptiz’d.
In St. John, Chap. iii. Ver. 5. Jesus said, Except a Man be born of Water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. This relates to Infants as well as to adult Persons, because Infants having sinned in Adam, they are under an absolute Necessity of receiving the Grace and Righteousness of Jesus Christ to reign in eternal Life. Baptism is a Sacrament which is receiv’d but once: One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, says the Apostle to the Ephesians, Chap. iv. Ver. 5. because, as Jesus Christ cannot die a second time, so we cannot die a second time to Sin by Baptism.
As to the Sacrament of Confirmation, it was likewise instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ: I think that People ought to be very cautious of neglecting a Sacrament so holy, and which is a Means that God employs to make us Partakers of so many of his Graces. As, by Baptism, we become the Soldiers of Jesus Christ, by the Sacrament of Confirmation we receive Arms to combat our Enemies. By Baptism the Holy Spirit gives us the Fullness of Grace to recover Innocence, and by Confirmation he gives us Grace to acquire the Perfection of Righteousness. By Baptism we are born again to Newness of Life, and Confirmation gives us Strength to fight the good Fight. By Baptism we are wash’d and purify’d, and by Confirmation we are strengthen’d. Regeneration in a time of Tranquillity saves of its own Accord such as receive Baptism, and Confirmation puts Weapons into their Hands, and makes them ready for the Battle. In fine, I believe, that all Catholics ought to take all possible Care to receive this Sacrament, because Jesus Christ was pleas’d, that his Apostles should receive it; which was the Case, according to St. Luke, when the Holy Ghost descended upon them in so miraculous a
manner at the Feast of Pentecost. ’Tis said in the Acts of the Apostles, Chap. ii. Ver. 2. And suddenly there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty Wind, and it filled all the House where they were sitting, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. As we are given to understand by these Words, that all the Disciples who were assembled in that House, which was the Figure of the Church, receiv’d the Holy Ghost, so all that are in the Church are under a Necessity of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, which is prov’d by the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Feast of Pentecost. Finally, I believe, that by this Sacrament God confirms in us what he begun with Baptism, and that by Confirmation he makes us perfect Christians.
XXXI. I believe, that the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is a true Sacrament, and I look upon it as one of the greatest Mysteries of Faith. And what gives me the more Veneration for it is, that the Heretics themselves are persuaded, that it was instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe with St. Augustin and the whole Church, that this Sacrament consists of Two Things, viz. The visible Elements of Bread and Wine, and the invisible Flesh and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. For this Reason I adore the Sacrament of the Eucharist. By this Sacrament I understand the Body and Blood of our Lord. I suspend all my Senses, I wean my Mind from them, and believe with Submission, that the Holy Eucharist is really the Body of our Lord, that is to say, the very same Body which was born of the Virgin Mary, and which sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father everlasting. I
believe, there remaineth nothing of the Substance of Bread and Wine, which I take intirely upon the Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, Matt. xxvi. 26, 28. This is my Body, this is my Blood. St. Paul confirms me in this Sentiment, when, after having mention’d the Consecration of the Bread and Wine by Jesus Christ, he said to the Corinthians, I Ep. Chap. xi. Ver. 28, 29. Let a Man examine himself, and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup: For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body. If this Sacrament was only the Memorial and Sign of the Passion of Jesus Christ, as the Heretics will have it to be, I don’t think that St. Paul would have us’d such earnest Expressions to exhort Believers to examine themselves before they approached to this Sacrament. The same Apostle St. Paul assures us also of the real Presence of the Body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, when he says in his first Epistle to the Corinthians, Chap. x. Ver. 16. The Cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ? But besides these Words of the Apostle, Jesus Christ says in St. John, Chap. vi. Ver. 51. The Bread that I will give is my Flesh, which I will give for the Life of the World: And a little after in Ver. 53. he adds, Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, ye have no Life in you. For, says he again, Ver. 55. my Flesh is Meat indeed, and my Blood is Drink indeed.
Besides all these Passages of holy Writ, which are a Proof to me of the real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, the Testimony of all the holy Fathers ever since the Church had a Beginning,
who have all unanimously believ’d the real Presence of the Body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, farther confirms me in this Opinion. In fine, the real Presence is what the Church believes, which is enough for me, who acknowledge her Decisions to be infallible. But the Protestants will object to me; If, after the Consecration of the Eucharist, ’tis really chang’d into our Lord’s Body, how comes it that you still call it Bread? To this I answer, That ’tis because the Eucharist still preserves the Species and the Appearances of Bread, and retains the Property of nourishing the Body, which is one Quality of Bread. The Holy Scripture itself is likewise accustom’d to give Names to Things, according to their outward Appearance. ’Tis said in Genesis, that Three Men appeared to Abraham, tho’ in Fact they were Three Angels: And in the Acts of the Apostles, those Angels that appear’d to the Apostles after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ are call’d Men.