Anonymous on Article XXVIII: Of the Lord's Supper

their Lord’s exceeding great Love (in Dying for them) at his own Table. It cannot, without Injury to our Principles, be supposed, that we bring with us any ill Will, or malicious Intentions, when we meet to praise the Living Father, for Sending his Son ; to adore the Son, for Dying in our behalf; and to implore the Holy Spirit’s Assistance, to make us meet for such Mercy. Our Communion is a manifest Discovery of our Friendship and Charity; for we own our selves of one and the same Religion, as Members of the fame Body,

of which Christ is the Head, and as Heirs of the same Promise of

Life and Happiness. We are then fed with the same Spiritual Food, drink of the same Divine Cup, and declare by our Actions, that we have the same Hope of Everlasting Glory in us. And such as are so united in Principle and Practice, in Heart and Expectati- on, may be presum’d to be in perfect Charity one with another; as

they expect the Favour of their Lord, whole Death they celebrate. But i any Man seem to be contentious, we have no such Custom, nei-

ther the Churches of God: Which are for Peace and Love.

II. It is not only a Sign, but rather a Sacrament of our Re- demption by Christ’s Death. It was the Pleasure of the Father, to resolve, that without Shedding of Blood, there should be no Re- mission, or Pardon of Sin. Whereupon his only Son, our Lord, came in our Flesh, and offer’d himself up as a Sacritice for the Sins of

1 Cor. 11. 16.

the World, and thereby obtain’d Eternal Redemption for us. To

keep up the Memory of this his Dying for us, he hath instituted and ordain’d the Sacrament of Bread and Wine, to be a Visible Re- presentation of his Body and Blood; to testify to all Ages, that he has redeemed and purchased us by his own Death, to be his own peculiar People. So that it is PONY a Sacrament of our Redempti-

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Au EXPOSITION of the

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on by Christ’s Death 5 which we may al find, to our great and endless Comfort, would we partake of it as we ought. Ter if we Receive it rightly, with due Preparation of Heart and Life; if we worthily approach with true Repentance for Sins past, humble and

sincere Resolutions of Läving better, a lively Faith in God’s Mercy,

and thankful Remembrance of his Passion; we then part ike of he Body and Blood of Christ, and are entitled to all the Benefits of his Passion and Mediation. We are bound therefore, for our own Safety and Advantage, to examine our selves, to search our Hearts and Lives; to repent, amend, and vow all possible Obedience, that

vpon our coming to the Holy Table, we may discern o Faith the

Lord’s Body, and be found worthy Partakers of it; that we may

have Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ, and thro’ him 1 Cor. 11. 24. Obtain Remission of Sins, and live for ever. This is my Body, which

the latter part. 25 broken for you : This do in Remembrance of me.

III. There is no Change of the Bread and Wine by Transub-

stantiation. Such Doctrine is not to be proved by Holy Writ ; tis re- pugnant to the plain Words of Scripture ; overthroweth the Nature of a Sacrament ; hath given Occasion to many Superstitions. These are the Reasons, why our Church does not allow of that Monstrous Opinion, so contrary to Sense and Right Reason. RE 11991,

1» This Change of Bread and Wine into the very Body and

fairly, to support and maintain the same. For tho* our Lord, up- on the Institution of the Sacrament, did say, Take, eat; this is « my Body ” ; he could not mean, that the Bread in his Hand was that Body, that spake unto them. Far how could his Body be in his jane e and in their Mouths, and he speak unto them at the same time ? He said at another time, © I am the true Vine“: Will any from thence conclude, that he was a real Vine, with Roots in the Earth, and Branches out of it? He said also, © I am the Door“ into the Sheep-fold : Would any in their Wits conclude, that he was a real Door ? If then such Expressions must be understood as Metaphori- cal, why should not this be expounded in the fame manner? For when he said, This is my Body ; his Meaning is, This signifies, represents, or is the Sacrament of my Body. That as the Fews said, © This is the Paschal Lamb; tho’ that was really slain many Years before, when they came out of Egypt : So we fay, This is c his Body ; tho’ that was crucified near Seventeen Hundred Years ago: For we intend no more than the Jews, that it signifies and re- presents the Body of Christ. But if we must understand this literal- Iy, it follows, that we must understand the Cup literally; which

will appear very strange. For then the Cup must be turn’d into Blood; which is fo absurd, that the Patrons of Transubstantiation

wee

Blood of Christ, cannot be prov’d by Holy Writ, or out of the Scriptures E there is no Place of Scripture, that can be alledg’d u

will allow the Cup to signify the Wine contained in the Cup, or the

Blood contained in the Cup. And if our Saviour spake by a Me- taphor concerning the Cup, he might use the same Metaphor con-

cerning

Porno I WR W

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cerning his Body: Both are commanded to be received in Remem- Article brance of him; which how it can be done when he is present, is XXVII. ast my Understanding. This do, as oft as ye drink it, in Remem- \N>=

1 Cor. 11. 25> ance of me. che latter part.

2. This Change is plainly repugnant to the express Words of Scripture, He himself who has instituted this Sacrament, calls the Bread, after it is consecrated, not his Body, but Bread; and the Cup, not his Blood, but the Cup, by the Mouth of St Paul; and that the ©* Eating of this Bread, and Drinking of this Cup, does shew forth the Lord’s Death till he come. He further adds, that © the © Bread which we break, is the Cummunion of the Body of Christ; and the Cup which we drink of, is the Communion of his Blood. If therefore we will attend to, and be govern’d by Scripture, tis Bread after Consecration, and Wine when poured forth; and we are bound to call them by the fame Names; for they are no more changed by us, than they were by St. Paul. And if in his Days they were but Sacramental Bread and Wine, they can be no other in ours, Belides, if Bread and Wine do set forth the Lord’s Death till he come; they cannot be changed into the same Body and Blood, they are to set forth; for then they would be present. And can my Presence set forth my Absence, and my Coming again? Or can the Presence of Christ’s Real Body and Blood, set forth his Presence, till the Real Body of Christ shall come > The Apostle thought him absent ; and could not imagine, that hisPresence should fet forth his Coming from Heaven. His Body is not to return to the Earth, © till the Last Day, until the Time of Restitution of all « Things”. Till then, we must remember it in the Sacrament ; but may not expect it under the Accidents of Bread and Wine; un- less it can be in Heaven, and Earth, and in Ten Thousand Places

at one and the same Time. This is plainly repugnant to the Holy Scripture. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preach- ed unto you; whom the Heavens must receive, until the Times of Re- stitut ion 4 all Things « Which God hath spoken by the Mouth of all bis Holy Prophets, 5 5h the World began.

At. 3. 20, 21,

3. This Change overthroweth the Nature of a Sacrament : For that is an Outward and Visible Representation of the Thing signi- fied. But what External Representation can there be, of that which is present 2 The Accidents are nothing but External Ap- pearances ; and if they remain without their Substances, they can-

not pass for Representations of the Body and Blood of Christ, which lies conceal’d under those Accidents, which seem to us to be no other than Bread and Wine. If therefore Transubstantiation were true, it must destroy the Nature of the Sacrament. For then it will follow, that the Body and Blood of Christ, do represent the Body and Blood of Christ ; or that Accidents of Bread and Wine, must pass for Bread and Wine ; which, if taken either way, destroys the Nature of a Sacrament, which is the Representation of something signified thereby, and is celebrated in Remembrance of something

done

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Tm EXPOSITION ff th ©

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done before „ and display’d to view under proper Representati- ons. yr]

4. Transubstantiation hath given an Occasion to many Super- stitions. For when Men were possess’d with a firm Belief, that the Bady and Blood of Christ were really, and substantially under the Accidents of Bread and Wine; they began to look upon it as à Sa- crifice, and not a Commemoration of a Sacrifice ; and pretended,

that it was beneficial for the Quick and the Dead, and called it the

Sacrifice of the Mass ; they elevated it for the People to worship, they reserved it for many Uses, and laid the Foundation of those many Superstitions relating to it in the Roman Church.

IV. We partake of the Body and Blood of Christ , at this Sa. crament, in a Spiritual Manner: It is given, taken, and received Spiritually ; and the Means whereby we receive it, is Faith. We

cannot think that our Lord would set apart such proper Representa-

tions, to convey nothing to us; or that he would command us to receive the Signs, and not confer the Things signified to us. When therefore our Church denies the Presence of the real and substantial Body and Blood of Christ, made up of Flesh, Bones, Veins, and Nerves; She instructs us to believe, that © the Body and Blood « of Christ are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faith- « ful in the Lord’s Supper ” ; and that those that come duly pre- pared, and receive rightly and worthily, are Spiritually Partakers of his Body and Blood ; that they become one with Christ, and Christ

with them ; and that they really and truly partake of the Benefits and Fruits of his Passion, as living Members of his Body; as he is the Bread of Life, they are then nourished, ininachened and sup-

ported by him; they receive him by Faith, by Faith they feed up-

on him ; and the divine Life that is begun in their Souls, is in a

Spiritual Manner, upheld and carried on in them. So that we pro-

Joh. 6. 84,55

fess and own a Real Spiritual Presence of him, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; but disown and deny that Corporeal Presence of the Body and Blood, Flesh and Bones of Christ : For whereas

now we feed upon him by Faith with Thanksgiving, we should

then feed upon him with our Teeth, and devour the Lord that bought us. Whoso eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, bath eternal Life, and I will raise him up at the last Day : For my Flesh is meat indeed, and my Blood is drink indeed.

V. This Holy Sacrament was not appointed for a Shew, or a Piece of Pageantry; was not by Christ’s Ordinance to be reserv’d, carried about, lifted up; he expresly commands, that it should

be eaten and drunk in Remembrance of him; and therefore they do

more than is commanded, who reserve it ready consecrated for the Use of the Sick , who carry it about in Pomp under a Canopy of State, to be gazed, and wondered at; and who worship it with the same Adoration that they would pay to Christ himself. Our Savi-

our’s

Thirty Nine Ax Tic LES.

our’s Command should be our Rule, and his express Words dearer to us, than the Traditions of Men. To dismiss this Argument, ei- ther Transubstantiation, which gives an Occasion to all this Pagean- try, is true or false : If true, it is but reasonable, thar one should | see, feel, and taste, that very Body and Blood, which is pretended Present, which never any Man upon Earth hath done ; If false, as no doubt it is, then those that invite the People to worship , and to adore, worship no other than Bread and Wine for Christ him- self, which can be no other than Idolatry. Whereas St. Jobn faith, Little Children, keep your selves from Idols.

From this Consideration of the Article, ye may fee the Faithful- ness of our Church; The Obligation that is upon all of us to receive this Sacrament, and the particular Care we should take to re- cave it worthily. e

1. The Faithfulness of our Church is remarkable. For she gives you the true Account of the Lord’s Supper, freed from the mon- strous Absurdities of Transubstantiation, and the superstitious Fan- cies of Rome : She informs you what Christ hath made it, and how

Article

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1 Joh. 5, 21.

he commands you to use it; and tells you, that ‘tis not only a Sign

of your mutual Love, but of your Redemption by Christ Jesus; and that as ye love your Souls, and desire to enjoy that Salvation he hath purchased , ye are bound to prepare for, and come to

it: Your Lord, who died for you all, commands all to eat of that

Bread; and says, © Drink ye all of this“, and excuses none. Ye had need be well advis’d therefore, lest ye turn away from the Holy

Commandment, and disobey him, who died for you, and expects

so much Love and Gratitude from you, as to remember him in his own Way; for he hath said, He that denieth me before Men, “ him will I deny before my Father which is Heaven ”. As therefore our Church is faithful to prepare the Sacrament for you, according to Christ’s Institution, and to put you in Mind of these Things, it will be upon your Peril, if ye turn away from it, or negle& the same. It would be a very unwelcome Resolution, if it should be taken up against some of us, as it was against others. 1 say unto you , That none of thosg Men that were bidden, shall taste

of my Supper.

2. There is an Obligation upon us all to receive this Sacrament :

Upon all that are come to Years of Discretion, and are capable of exa-

mining themselves; for we are baptiz’d and receiv d intoChrist’s Church; we arc his Servants, and under his Government; we are subject to his Laws and Gospel; we have covenanted with him to be his Faithful Servants, and have vow’d and promis d all Obedience to him; and therefore are as much bound to receive this Sacrament, as to perform any other Duty for his Sake, or in Obedience to him. And it some of us are not worthy, we shall find (would we search into the Cause)

that the Fault lies at our own Doors, and can be charged upon no

other. For what can be the Reason that we do not repent, and get ready, but our own Neglect, or our own Presumption? We will not

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An EXPOSITION of the

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Matt. 25; 3.

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not be as dutiful, as we are commanded; and will not qualify our selves by holy Living, as we have promised ; and that is the true Reason why we are not fit to come when invited. And the Fault is our own, that we are not ready; we shall at last, when it may be too late, lay it upon our selves, and bear our Punishment. I wish none may prove the foolish Virgins They that were foolish, took their Lamps, and took no Oil with them,

. When we have prepared for this Sacrament,we should take parti- se Care to receive it worthily. We should especially mind what we are doing, keep our Hearts intent upon the Action, and with the sincerest Devotion receive and eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. We should then exercise our Faith, enlarge our Charity, adore the divine Goodness, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and devote our {elves to the Service of Christ. So doing, we may receive it with Comfort, refle& upon it with Peace, and go forth, the Lord strength- ening us, with Resolution for his Service. For this God is our God “ for ever and ever; he will be our Guide unto Death“.

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Thirty Nine ARTICLES.

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