Of “holiness” there be degrees: for of those things that are set apart for the service of God, there may be some set apart again for a nearer and more especial service. The whole nation of the Israelites were a people holy to God; yet the tribe of Levi was amongst the Israelites a holy tribe; and amongst the Levites, the priests were yet more holy; and amongst the priests, the high priest was the most holy. So the land of Judaea was the Holy Land; but the holy city wherein God was to be worshipped, was more holy; and again the Temple more holy than the city, and the sanctum sanctorum more holy than the rest of the Temple.
A “sacrament,” is a separation of some visible thing from common use; and a consecration of it to God’s service, for a sign either of our admission into the kingdom of God, to be of the number of His peculiar people, or for a commemoration of the same. In the Old Testament, the sign of admission was “circumcision”; in the New Testament, “baptism.” The commemoration of it in the Old Testament was the “eating,” at a certain time which was anniversary of the “Paschal Lamb”; by which they were put in mind of the night wherein they were delivered out of their bondage in Egypt; and in the New Testament, the celebrating of the “Lord’s Supper”; by which we are put in mind of our deliverance from the bondage of sin, by our blessed Saviour’s death upon the cross. The sacraments of “admission,” are but once to be used, because there needs but one “admission”; but because we have need of being often put in mind of our deliverance, and of our allegiance, the sacraments of “commemoration” have need to be reiterated. And these are the principal sacraments, and as it were the solemn oaths we make of our allegiance. There be also other consecrations, that may be called sacraments, as the word implieth only consecration to God’s service; but as it implies an oath, or promise of allegiance to God, there were no other in the Old Testament, but “circumcision,” and the “passover”; nor are there any other in the New Testament, but “baptism” and the “Lord’s Supper.”