Welchman on Article XXIX: Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use of the Lord's Supper

This Article is a Corollary or Deduction from the for- mer. For, since Faith is the Mean whereby we eat the Body of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, it is impossible that the Wicked, who have no true Faith, should be Partakers of the Body of Christ. But whilst they receive the Sym- bols or Signs of the Lord’s Body, they receive them to their own Condemnation, and fin against Christ, by using such holy Things in so unworthy a Manner.

And farther, this Article, which is drawn up in the very Words of St. Augustine, entirely overthrows the Doctrine of Transubstantiation. For it the Elements be changed into the very Body and Blood of Christ, then no Reason can be assigned, why wicked Men, and even Mice, may ( not eat the Body of Christ, This even the Ramanisis ac- knowledge, and say withal, that the Host, by whomsoever or whatsoever devoured, is still the Body of Christ, aslong as any of the Species of it remains.

The Passage of St. Augustine, to which this Article refers, is in his 26th Treatise on St. Fohn. The Words are these: „Hie that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, awelleth &« in Me, and Tin Him. To dwell then in Christ, and to have him dwelling in Us, this is to eat that Food, and & to drink that Drink. And he who by this Means doth & not dwell in Christ, and in whom Christ doth not dwell, “ without Doubt neither spiritually eats his Flesh, nor drinks his Blood, though he carnally press with his Teeth © the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; but rather to his own Condemnation he eats and drinks the „ Sacrament of fo great a Thing, because he hath pre- * sumed to come impure to the Sacraments of Christ, * which none receive worthily, but they who are pure; of whom it is said, Blessed are the pure in Heart: for they shall see God. Matth. v. 8,

See also Autonini Florent. Summ. Part III. Tit. 13. C. 6. Sect. 3. Navelli Cat. p. 153, 154. Bilson of Christian Subj, Part IV. 628. Field of the Church, B. III. Append. C. 18.

In no wise are they partæters, &c.] See 1 Fohn i. E, 7. If we say that we have Fellowship with Him, and walk in 7 we lye, and do not the Truth : But if we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin. ;

Te their Condemnation, See 1 Core xi. 20. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh Damnation to

[…]

of the Church of EncLanD.

ARTI C0: mem