Wesley Corpus

That a sacrament should consist of matter and form, and yet either have no form, as confirmation and extreme unction; or have neither matter nor form, of divine institu tion, as penance and matrimony, is to make them sacraments, and to be none. Our Church rightly affirms of the additional sacraments, they have not any visible sign ordained of God. (Article 25.) Q. 54. Of what virtue are the sacraments? A. The sacraments contain the grace which they signify, and confer grace ex opere operato, “by the work itself,” upon such as do not put an obstruction. (Concil. Trid, ibid., can. 6, 8.) For these sensible and natural things work by the almighty power of God in the sacraments, what they could not do by their own power. (Catech. Rom., ibid., n. 27.) REPLY. It is not sufficient that adult persons have no indis position to receive the grace of the sacraments; for there is also required a mind well-instructed, a sound belief, and a heart well inclined for that purpose. (2.) The virtue in the sacraments doth not proceed from the mere elements and words, but from the blessing of God in consequence of his promise to such only as rightly partake of them, and are qualified for it. Q. 55. What is necessary to a sacrament on the part of those that officiate? * “Our Lord Jesus Christ,” saith he, “hath knit Christians together, with sacraments most few in number, most easy to be kept, most excellent in significa tion; as are baptism and the Lord's supper.”--Epist. ad Januar. 118. A. It is absolutely necessary, that those that make and consecrate the sacraments have an intention of doing at least what the Church doeth, and doth intend to do. (Concil. Trid., ibid., can. 11.) REPLY. From hence it follows, that if there be no inten tion, the sacraments are none. And so there is no certainty whether the Priest be a Priest, or whether in the eucharist the elements continue not elements after consecration, and what is taken for the host be no other than bread. For without the intention, neither is the Priest ordained, nor are the elements consecrated. Q. 56. Who may administer the sacrament of baptism? A.