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FOUNDATIONS*73**whose* ministry* we* can* benefit* from* but* who* themselves* do* not* practice*what*they*preach.*This*Article*addresses*the*concern*of*those*who*doubt*the*validity* or* efficacy* of* the* sacraments* administered* by* such* people.* “I* was*baptised*by*X,”*they*might*say,*“but*look,*I*now*see*that*he’s*an*immoral*man*who*in*his*own*life*has*rejected*the*very*truths*he*taught*me*to*love.*Is*my*baptism* still* valid?”* Sometimes* even* the* faith* of* such* people* is* rocked* by*some* later:revealed* unworthiness* in* the* minister* who* baptised* and*discipled*them.*Article*26,*which*has*its*roots*in*the*Donatist*controversy*of*the*fourth*century,*asserts*that*the*efficacy*of*the*sacraments*depends*on*Christ*alone,*and* not* on* anything* in* the* one* who* administers* them. 27 *As* Paul* told* the*Philippians,* the* important* thing* is* not* the* minister,* but* that* Christ* is*proclaimed* (Phil* 1:18).* This* is* a* teaching* common* to* the* churches* of* the*Reformation,*and*was*reasserted*in*the*face*of*radical*Anabaptist*agitations*on* the* Continent* and* the* serious* spiritual* doubts* which* arose* during* the*vicious*religio:political*swings*of*the*English*Reformation.*It*enabled*those*Protestants*who*were*baptised*under*Roman*Catholicism*to*have*confidence*in*their*baptism*as*resting*on*Christ’s*institution*and*promise,*and*faith*in*this* alone,* and* not* on* the* godliness,* soundness,* or* intentions* of* the* priest*who* performed* it. 28 *People* like* Luther,* Calvin,* and* Cranmer* were* not* re:baptised*once*they*broke*with*Rome.*Without*this*sort*of*assurance,*people*would* be* subject* to* all* kinds* of* spiritual* angst* for* themselves* whenever* a*minister*did*anything*sinful.*The*impact*and*persuasiveness*of*a*minister’s*teaching*may*be*damaged*by,*say,*tax*evasion,*lust,*and*coarse*language;*but*these* do* not* hinder* the* effect* of* the* sacraments* they* administer.* The*Augustinian:Reformation* doctrine* re:focuses* people’s* attention* away* from*the*human*personality*and*back*onto*God*and*his*word.*In*many*ways,*we*ought*to*forget*who*baptised*us.*The*worthiness*or*qualifications*or*celebrity*status* of* the* minister* is* not* pertinent;* what* matters* is* being* baptised* in*Christ’s*name*and*trusting*in*him.*This* is* a* vital* point* theologically, 29 *and* it* is* also* made* in* other*confessions* and* catechisms. 30 *It* is* however* also* of* course* true* that* no*********************************************************************27*This*was*a*repeated*point*throughout*the*middle*ages*too.*Lombard,*Sentences,*4.5.1*for*example,*reasserts*it,*with*a*number*of*quotations*from*Augustine*and*others.*28*We*may*draw*parallels*and*ask*whether*if*a*couple*who*were*married*by*a*minister*who*turned* out* to* be* a* rogue,* are* truly* married.* Of* course* they* are,* if* the* marriage* is* performed*legally*and*correctly.*Marriage*is*not*a*sacrament,*but*the*same*applies:*outwardly*someone*is*truly*baptised*if*it*was*performed*legally*and*correctly,*regardless*of*the*minister’s*godliness.*Neither* the* minister* himself* nor* the* sacrament* in* itself* have* the* power* to* bring* about* the*inward*spiritual*change*which*God’s*word*alone*effects*through*faith.*29*Mark*Burkill,*Unworthy#Ministers:#Donatism#and#Discipline#Today*(London:*Latimer*Trust,*2010)*is*an*excellent*contemporary*exposition*of*this*Article.*30*The*Westminster*Shorter*Catechism,*question*91,*for*example*says*that*“The*sacraments*become*effectual*means*of*salvation,*not*from*any*virtue*in*them,*or#in#him#that#doth#administer#!