2. But, according to Augustine, a sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible grace. Again, a sacrifice is visible; a sacrament invisible. Again, the same sign is a thing which bringeth under cognisance some thing different from itself over and above the outward appearance which it presenteth to the senses.
3. A sacrament is said also to be a sign of a sacred thing, or a sacred concealment of a thing. Of this we shall further speak in the fourth book, under the seventh part of the Canon of the Mass, upon the word 'the mystery of faith,' and under the head of the Oblation. [Footnote 544]
[Footnote 544: The seventh part of the Canon of the Mass is, 'Likewise after supper He took the cup into His holy and venerated hands; and when He had given thanks, He blessed it and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take and drink ye all of this; for this is the chalice of My blood, of the New and Everlasting Testament, the mystery of faith, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this as oft as ye shall drink it in remembrance of me.'—See Rationale iv. 42, 20.]
4. Some of the sacraments be of necessity only; some of dignity and necessity; some of order and necessity; some of dignity and choice; and some of choice only. The sacrament of necessity only is baptism, which when administered by anyone, so it be in the form of the Church, in the greatest extremity profiteth unto salvation. And it is said to be 'of necessity,' because without it no one can be saved, if it be neglected through contempt. Of this sacrament we shall speak in the sixth book, under the head of Holy Saturday. [Footnote 545] The sacrament of dignity and necessity is confirmation: of dignity, because it is conferred by the bishop alone; of necessity, because he who neglecteth it through contempt of it, cannot be saved. Of this also we shall speak under the head just specified.
[Footnote 545: The chapter referred to treats of holy baptism doctrinally, and does not therefore fall within the province of this volume.]
5. The sacraments of order and dignity are Penance, the Eucharist, and Extreme Unction. Of order; because they ought only to be administered by such as are rightly ordained according to the Church's power of the keys; except in necessity, in which one may confess even unto a layman: of necessity; since such as neglect them through contempt of them cannot be saved. About penance, see the sixth book, upon the fifth day of Holy Week, the Caena Domini: [Footnote 546] about the Eucharist, we shall speak in the fourth book, upon the Canon; [Footnote 547] about Extreme Unction we have spoken in the preceding chapter.
[Footnote 546: What we call Maunday Thursday, from Mandatum novum ('A new commandment I give unto you,' etc.), which the Church of England retains as a Lesson for the day, is more properly called The Caena Domini, or Lord's Supper, in remembrance (as Bishop Andrewes says) of the mighty mystery of Thy holy body and precious blood, instituted on the evening of this day.—See S. Isidore, De Offic. Eccles. i, 28. The chapter referred to (73 of the sixth book), shows that penitents were restored to communion on this day, and with what ceremonies.]
[Footnote 547: These, besides their great length, are not required for the explication of our more immediate subject.]
6. But the sacrament of dignity and choice is Orders: of dignity; because conferred by bishops alone, and because no one is admitted thereunto save a worthy person and in a worthy way: of choice; because anyone may be saved without it. Of this we shall speak in the preface to the second book. [Footnote 548]