The Holy Mysteries

http://www.crivoice.org/creeddositheus.html

Sacraments, evangelical mysteries

And the Mysteries consist of something natural, and of something supernatural; and are not bare signs of the promises of God. For then they would not differ from circumcision — what could be worse than that [idea]? We acknowledge them to be, of necessity, efficient means of grace to the receivers.

1. Holy Baptism

"Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;"

"He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that does not believe shall be condemned."

2. Confirmation

that is to say, of the Holy Myron or Holy Chrism,

"But ye — tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

With which they were endued by the coming of the Holy Spirit, and this the Mystery of Confirmation signifies; concerning which Paul also wrote in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, chap. 1, and Dionysius the Areopagite more explicitly.

3. Priesthood

"This do ye for My Memorial;"

"Whatever you bind and loose upon the earth shall be bound and loosed in the heavens."

4. Divine Liturgy

"Take, eat; This is My Body;" {Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; and cf. Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 2:24}

"Drink all of It; This is My Blood of the New Testament;" {Matthew 26:27; and cf. Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 2:25}

"Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, you do not have life in yourselves."

5. Marriage

when, having recited the things which had been spoken thereof in the Old [Testament], He, as it were, set His seal thereto by the words,

"Those whom God hath joined together, do not let man put asunder,"

and this the divine Apostle also calls a great Mystery.

6. Penance

with which is joined sacramental confession, by the words,

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." [NRSV];

"unless you repent, you will [all] likewise perish."

7. Holy Oil

or Prayer-Oil is spoken of in Mark,

and is expressly witnessed to by the Lord’s brother. {James 5:14}