Decree XV

We believe that there are in the Church Evangelical Mysteries [i.e., Sacraments of the Gospel Dispensation], and that they are seven. Korea) less. or a greater number of): the Mysteries we have not in the Church; since any number of the Mysteries other than seven is the product of heretical madness. And the seven of them were instituted in the Sacred Gospel, and are gathered from the same, like the other dogmas of the Catholic Faith. For in the first place our Lord instituted Holy Baptism by the words, ‘Go ye and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit ;’ and by the words, ‘He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.’t

And that of Confirmation, that is to say,

of the Holy Myron or Holy Chrism, by the words, ‘But ye—tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. With which they were endued by the coming of the Holy Spirit, and this the Mystery of Confirmation signifieth ; concerning which Paul also discourseth in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. i, and Dionysius the Areopagite more explicitly.tT

And the Priesthood by the words, ‘This do ye for My Memorial ;’+ and by the words, ‘Whatsoever ye shall bind and loose upon the earth shall be bound and loosed in the heavens.’

And the unbloody Sacrifice by the words, (dake, seat oye} This is My) Body; ai Mand ‘Drink ye all of It; This is My Blood of the New Testament ;’ and by the words, ‘ Except

μα κο κι τοι Matt. xvill., 18.

ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, ye have not life in yourselves.’

And Marriage, when, having recited the things which had been spoken thereof in the Old [Testament], He, as it were, set His seal thereto by the words, ‘Those whom God hath joined together, let not man put asunder,’ T and this the divine Apostle also calleth a great Mystery.t

And Penance, with which is joined sacramental confession, by the words, ‘Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained ;’ ll and by the words, ‘Except ye repent, ye shall [all] likewise perish.’ {

And lastly, the Holy Oil or Prayer-Oil is spoken of in Mark, and is expressly witnessed to by the Lord’s brother.tT

And the Mysteries consist of something natural, and of something supernatural; and are not bare signs of the promises of God. For then they would not differ from circumcision—than which [notion] what could be

Μαν 13) Tt James v., 14.

worse? And we acknowledge them to be, of necessity, efficient means of grace to the receivers. But we reject, as alien to Christian doctrine, the notion that the integrity of the Mystery requireth the use of the earthly thing [i.e., dependeth upon its reception]; for this is contrary to the Mystery of the Offering [i.e., the Sacrament of the Eucharist], which being instituted by the Substantial Word, and hallowed by the invocation of the Holy Spirit, is perfected by the presence of the thing signified, to wit, of the Body and Blood of Christ. And the perfecting thereof necessarily precedeth its use. For if it weré not perfect before its use, he that useth it not aright could not eat and drink judgment unto himself; since he would be partaking of mere bread and wine. But now, he that partaketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself; so that not in its use, but even before its use, the Mystery of the Eucharist hath its perfection. Moreover, we reject as something abominable and pernicious the notion that when faith is weak the integrity of the Mystery is impaired. For heretics who abjure their

z ! Cor, χι 26,28, 20.

heresy and join the Catholic Church are recetyed by the Church); although’ they received their valid Baptism with weakness of faith. Wherefore, when they afterwards become possessed of the perfect faith, they are not again baptised.