Wesley Corpus

Or when is it such benefits are promised as these are said to signify? Is it not rather a debasing of it, to have such rites and prayers introduced into it, as signify that which baptism was never appointed for? To give an instance in the salt used in it:-- “I exorcise thee, O creature of salt, in the name of the Father (t) Omnipotent, and in the love of our (t) Lord Jesus Christ, and in the virtue of the Holy (t) Spirit. I exorcise thee by the living (+) God, by the true (t) God, by the holy (+) God, who hath created thee for the safeguard of mankind, and hath commanded it to be consecrated by his servants for the people that come to believe, that in the name of the holy Trinity thou beest made a wholesome sacrament to put the enemy to flight. Therefore we pray thee, O our Lord God, that in sanctifying (t) thou dost sanctify this creature of salt, and in blessing (t) thou dost bless it, that it may be a perfect medicine to all that take it.” Q. 58. Is confirmation a sacrament? A. It is, properly and truly; and whosoever holds otherwise is accursed. (Concil. Trid, Sess. 7, de Confirm., can. 1.) REPLY. The Roman Catechism saith, that sacraments cannot be instituted by any but God. (Catech., ibid., n. 6.) And yet the great Schoolman, Alex. Ales, saith, “Christ did not institute nor declare confirmation to be a sacrament.” (Pars 4, q.4, m. 1.) So by their own confession it is none. Q. 59. What is the matter of the sacrament of confirmation? A. The matter is chrism, which is an ointment compounded of oil-olive and balsam, and consecrated by the Bishop (Cate. Rom., par. 2, c. 3, n. 2, 7, 27) upon Maundy-Thursday. (Sum of Christian Doctrine, London, 1686.) REPLY. That chrism is either of divine institution, or the matter of a sacrament, may be said, but cannot be proved. Q. 60. What is the form of consecration? A. The form is the words used by the Bishop, when he crosses the forehead with the chrism, viz., “I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” (Catech., n. 2, 11.) REPLY.