“Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of
Christian men’s profession, but rather they be certain sure
witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God’s good will towards
us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only
quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in Him.”—25_th_
_Art. Ch. of England_.
5. What do you understand by “spiritual grace,” which you say it is the
design of the Sacraments to convey to the soul?
The term grace has many significations in Scripture: but most commonly
it either means good-will, or favour (Romans xi. 6; 2 Tim. i. 9; Rom.
v. 20); or it signifies the _internal operation of the Holy Spirit_
upon the soul, regenerating, purifying, and sanctifying our nature: and
the Sacraments, when duly regarded, are signs and pledges of the one,
and effectual means of conveying the other.