Chapter X: Sacraments

Comprehensiveness a characteristic distinction of fruitful and
enduring work: which will here be traced in the sacramental
work of the Church; with incidental reference to the evidential
import of the inner coherence of Christianity, and its perfect
aptness for humanity 405-408

I. Christianity claims to be a way of life for men: whose
nature and life involve two elements; which are usually
distinguished as bodily and spiritual 408-409

The distinction of these two elements real; their union
essential 409-411

It is to be inquired whether this complexity of man's
nature is recognised and provided for in the Church of
Christ 411

II. Grounds for anticipating that it would be so:--

(1) In the very fact of the Incarnation; and more
particularly 411-413

(2) In the character of the preparatory system whose
forecasts it met 413-414

(3) And in certain conspicuous features of Christ's
ministry 414-415

The work of Sacraments to be linked with this anticipation 415

III. The prominence of the Sacramental principle in Christ's
teaching: to be estimated with reference to the previous
convictions of those whom He taught 415-416

There is thus found:--

(1) Abundant evidence that the general principle of
Sacraments is accepted, to be a characteristic of
Christianity 416-417

(2) The authoritative appointment of particular expressions
for this general principle:--

Expressions foreshown in preparatory history:
anticipated in preliminary discourses: appointed with
great solemnity and emphasis 417-418

[These expressions such as may be seen to be
intrinsically appropriate, ethically helpful and
instructive, and safeguards against individualism.] 418-420

(3) An immediate recognition in the Apostolic Church of the
force of this teaching, and of the necessary prominence
of Sacraments 420-421

IV. The correspondence between the ministry of Sacraments and
the complex nature of man appears in three ways: since:--

(1) The dignity and the spiritual capacity of the material
order is thus vindicated and maintained: so that unreal
and negative spirituality is precluded, and provision
is made for the hallowing of stage after stage in a
human life 422-426

(2) The claim of Christianity to penetrate the bodily life
is kept in its due prominence by the very nature of
Sacraments: the redemption of the body is foreshown; and
perhaps begun 426-429

(3) The evidences of mystery in human nature, its moments
of unearthliness, its immortal longings, its impatience
of finite satisfaction, being recognised and accounted
for by the doctrine of Grace are met by Sacraments: and
led in an ordered progress towards a perfect end 429-433