Belgic Confession · Article XXXIII

Of the sacraments

Note. This is the older English translation from the 1793 Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America. Later translations (for example the Christian Reformed Church's 1985 version) are in modern English and are copyrighted, so they are not used here. Scripture references appear in the text as the translation gives them.

We believe, that our gracious God, on account of our weakness and infirmities, hath ordained the sacraments for us, thereby to seal unto us his promises, and to be pledges of the good will and grace of God toward us, and also to nourish and strengthen our faith; which he hath joined to the word of the gospel, the better to present to our senses, both that, which he signifies to us by his word, and that which he works ​inwardly in our hearts, thereby assuring and confirming in us the salvation which he imparts to us. For they are visible signs and seals of an inward and invisible thing, by means whereof, God worketh in us by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore the signs are not in vain or insignificant, so as to deceive us. For Jesus Christ is the true object presented by them, without whom they would be of no moment. Moreover, we are satisfied with the number of sacraments which Christ our Lord hath instituted, which are two only, namely, the sacrament of baptism, and the holy supper of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Edition & Source Public domain

Source
The Belgic Confession
Translation
English translation printed in the Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America (1793)
Published
1561; revised 1618–1619
Copyright
Public domain.
License
Public domain
Attribution
Public domain: published before 1931. Text taken from the proofread Wikisource transcription of that printing. Compared with a second English text on apuritansmind.com (a lightly modernized version of the same lineage): the two agree in substance and differ in wording, for example 'saith' against 'says'. Not yet proofread against a printed edition.

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Cite as The Belgic Confession. 1561; revised 1618–1619. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Belgic_Confession