M.  But is it not a manifest proof of infidelity in us not to give sure faith to God’s promises unless we be underpropped with such helps?

      S.  Surely we are endued ^dwith slender and unperfect faith so long as we are in this world, and yet we cease not to be faithful.  For the remnants of distrust, which always stick in our flesh, do shew the weakness of our faith, ^ebut yet do not utterly quench it.  These remnants of distrust, though we cannot altogether shake off, yet we must with continual increasing even to the end of our life travail toward ^four perfection of faith, in which endeavour the use of sacraments doth much further us.

      M.  Is there any other cause why the Lord would also have the use of external signs practiced?

      S.  The Lord did furthermore ordain his mysteries to this end: that they should be certain marks and tokens ^gof our profession, whereby we should, as it were, bear witness of our faith before men, and should plainly shew that we are partakers of God’s benefits with the rest of the godly, and that we have all one concord and consent of religion with them, and should openly testify that we are not ashamed ^hof the name of Christians, and to be called the disciples of Christ.

      M.  What thinkest thou then of them that think they may spare the divine mysteries as things not of so great necessity?

      S.  First, they cannot fail this so godly and due a duty without ⁱmost heinous offence against God the Father, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, and also against his church.  For what were that else than indirectly to deny Christ?  And he that vouchsafeth not ^kto profess himself a Christian is not worthy to be counted in the number of Christians.  Again, they that would refuse the use of sacraments as if ^lthey had no need of them, I think were worthy to be condemned, not only of most high presumption, but also of unkind wickedness against God; forasmuch as they do despise not only the helps of their own weakness, but also God himself, the author of them; refuse ^mhis grace, and (as much as in them lieth) extinguish his Spirit.

Margin Notes :  ^eLuke 17:5.  Acts. 16:5.  Rom. 1:17 & 14:1. 
^f1 Cor. 9:24.  2 Cor. 5:7-8.  Heb. 6:1. 
^gMatt. 26:26 & 28:19.  Acts 2:38, 41.  1 Cor. 11:24.  Eph. 4:5. 
^hJohn 9:22 & 12:42 & 19:38.  Acts 11:26.  1 Pet. 4:16. 
ⁱJohn 3:5.  Luke 14:18, 24.  1 Cor. 11:24. 
^kMatt. 10:33.  Mark 8:38. 
^lJohn 3:5.  Luke 14:24. 
^m2 Cor. 6:1.  1 Thess. 5:19.