“…when the word ‘sacrament’ is understood of ceremonies instituted in the preaching of Christ, we list these sacraments: Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, [and] absolution, which are external rites and are signs of the entire Gospel, and properly speaking are in fact testimonies of the remission of sins or of reconciliation, which is especially mentioned in the common definition: A sacrament is a sign of grace, that is, of free reconciliation, which is give for the sake of Christ and proclaimed in the Gospel.

In my opinion there is considerable merit in adding also ordination, that is, the call into the ministry of the Gospel and the public approval of this call, because all these things are enjoined as injunctions of the Gospel, e.g., Titus [1:5], ‘Appoint elders as I have commanded,’ and there is added the promise which is the greatest of all and most worthy of recognition, which testifies that God is truly efficacious through the ministry of those who have been chosen by the voice of the church, as the universal statement testifies of the apostles and all who proclaim the Word which has been given through the apostles: ‘The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes’ [Rom. 1:16].”

Philip Melanchthon, The Chief Theological Topics, Loci Praecipui Theologici 1559.  Second English Edition.  Translated by J.A.O. Preus.  2011, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House.  257-258.

 Image: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Achenbach Foundation