¶ Of the Sacramentes.
The Two Sacraments Instituted by Christ
Christ has bound his new people together with two simple and profound sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has united a new community through Sacraments that are very few in number, very easy to observe, and most excellent in what they signify: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Right Use and Worthy Reception
The sacraments are meant to be used rightly, not merely looked at; their saving effect comes only to those who receive them worthily, not from the mere performance of the act, and unworthy reception brings judgment.
Christ didn't ordain the Sacraments to be gazed upon or carried about, but so that we should use them rightly. They only have a wholesome effect and working in those who receive them worthily—and yet not because of "the work wrought," as some people put it.1 That phrase, being strange and unknown to holy Scripture, produces no godly sense, but a very superstitious one.2 But those who receive the Sacraments unworthily bring damnation on themselves, as Saint Paul says.
Sacraments as Signs and Instruments of Grace
The sacraments are more than badges of Christian profession; they are sure witnesses and effective signs through which God works inwardly to awaken and strengthen faith.
Sacraments ordained by the Word of God are not only Rather, they are sure witnesses and effective signs of grace and of God's good will toward us, by which he works invisibly in us, not only bringing our faith to life but also strengthening and confirming it in him.
Read the original English
OUr Lord Iesus Christ hathe knytte together a companye of newe people, with Sacramentes moste fewe in nombre, moste easye to be kepte, moste excellent in signification: as is baptisme, and the Lords Supper.
THe Sacramentes were not ordeyned of Christe, to be gased vpō, or to be caried about: but that we shuld rightly vse thē. And in suche onlye, as worthelye receyue y• same, they haue a wholsome effecte, and operacion: and yet not that of the work wrought, as some me speake. Which word, as it is straunge, and vnknowen to holye Scripture: so it engendreth no Godly, but a very supersticious sense. But they that receyue the Sacramentes vnworthelye, purchace to theym selues Damnacion, as Sayncte Paule sayeth.
SAcramentes ordeyned by the Worde of God, be not onelye …. Badges, and tokens of christian mennes profession: but rather they be certaine sure witnesses, and effectuall signes of grace, & Goddes good wyll toward vs: by the whiche he dothe worke inuisibly in vs: and doth not only quycken, but also strengthen, and confirme our faith in him.
Notes
- 1 ↩"The work wrought" renders the source's "work wrought," a vernacular calque of the scholastic phrase opus operatum (the work performed), which this catechism rejects as the ground of sacramental benefit.
- 2 ↩"Which word" / "That phrase" points back to "the work wrought" (opus operatum) in the previous sentence.
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit