These be no light matters, but even the principal points of our christian religion. Wherefore we contend not about words and titles, but about high and earnest matters. Christ saith, Blessed be the peace-makers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” And Paul, writing unto Timothy, commanded bishops to avoid brawling and contention about words, which be profitable to nothing but unto the subversion and destruction of the hearers; and monisheth him specially, that he should resist with the scriptures, when any man disputeth with him of the faith: and he addeth a cause, whereas he saith: Doing this thou shalt preserve both thyself, and also them which hear thee.” Now if ye will follow these counsellors, Christ and Paul, all contention and brawling about words must be set apart, and ye must stablish a godly and a perfect unity and concord out of the scripture. Wherefore in this disputation we must first agree of the number of sacraments, and what a sacrament doth signify in the holy scripture; and when we call baptism and the supper of the Lord sacraments of the gospel, what we mean thereby. I know right well that St Ambrose and other authors call the washing of the disciples feet, and other things, sacraments; which I am sure you yourselves would not suffer to be numbered among the other sacraments.
[[? This speech is printed from Foxe’s Acts and mer, Fox, bishop of Hereford, and one Alexander]
[Monuments, and was delivered by Cranmer at an Alesse, a Scotchman, much esteemed for his learn-]
[assembly of bishops, appointed by Henry VIII. to ing and piety, whom Cranmer entertained at Lam-]
[determine those things which pertained unto re- beth,” and whom Crumwell brought with him to]
[ligion.” The whole of the discussion is related in give his opinion respecting the sacraments. Stokes-]
[Foxe, and an abridged statement of it is given in ley, bishop of London, replied to him, attempting]
[Burnet, Hist. Reformat. (Vol. I. p. 429. et sqq. to maintain the opposite argument. The articles of]
[Ed. Oxon. 1829.) Crumwell presided as vicar- 1536, about religion, resulted from this discussion.]
[general; and those who took part in favour of the See Foxe’s Acts and Monuments, pp. 1181-1183.]
[reform of abuses, were, besides the president, Cran- Ed. 1583.]]
Some Queries Concerning Confirmation, with the Answers Which Were Given to Them by Cranmer. The Judgment of Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
Lib. Whether confirmation be instituted by Christ? Respon. There is no place in scripture that declareth this sacrament to Eccl.. App. tute of Christ. n. 88.
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