M.  Thou conceivest well the right understanding concerning the visible signs and outward use of the sacraments.  But whereas, secondly, thou givest to the sacraments the strength and efficacy to seal and conform God’s promises in our hearts, thou seemest to assign to them the proper offices of the Holy Ghost.

      S.  To lighten and give bright clearness to men’s ⁿmind and souls, and to make their consciences quiet and in security, as they be indeed, so ought they to be accounted the proper work of the Holy Ghost alone, and to be imputed to him, and this praise not to be transferred to any other.  But this is no impediment but that God may give to his mysteries the second place in quieting and stablishing our minds and consciences, but yet so that nothing be abated from the virtue of his Spirit.  Wherefore we must determine that, the outward element hath neither ^oof itself nor in itself inclosed the force and efficacy of the sacrament, but the same wholly floweth from the Spirit of God, as out of a spring-head, and is by the divine mysteries, which are ordained by the Lord for this end, conveyed unto us.

      M.  How many sacraments hath God ordained in his church?

      S.  Two.

      M.  Which be they?

      S.  ^pBaptism and the Holy Supper, which are commonly used among all the faithful.  For by the one we are born again, and by the other we are nourished to everlasting life.

      M.  Then tell me first what thou thinkest of baptism?

      S.  Whereas by nature we are ^qthe children of wrath, that is, strangers from the church, which is God’s household, baptism is, as it were, ^ra certain entry, by which we are received into the church; whereof we also receive a most substantial testimony, that we are now ^sin the number of the household, and also of the children of God; yea, and that we are joined and graffed into ^tthe body of Christ, and become his members, and do grow into one body with him.

      M.  Thou saidst before that a sacrament consisteth of two parts, the outward sign, and inward grace.  What is the outward sign in baptism?

      S.  ^uWater: wherein the person baptized is dipped or sprinkled with it, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

      M.  What is the secret and spiritual grace?

      S.  It is of two sorts; that is, ^xforgiveness of sins, and regeneration; both of which in the same outward sign have their full and express resemblance.