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

a We affirm, together with the ancient Fathers, that the body of Christ is not eaten but of the good and faithful, and of those that are endued with the Spirit of Christ. Their doctrine (of the Church of Rome) is, that Christ’s very body effectually, and as they speak really and substantially, may be eaten of the wicked and unfaithful men. Jewell.

b Q. Are then the only faithful fed with Christ’s body and blood ? A. They only. For to whom he communicateth his body, to them he communicateth also everlasting life. Nowell, p. 112.

It is requisite that no man should come to the holy commu- mon, but with a full trust in God’s mercy, and with a quiet conscience. Communion Serv.

c Ye cannot drink the cup of the tog-ether in the church, I hear that

Lord, and the cup of devils : ye there be divisions among you ; and

cannot be partakers of the Lord’s I partly believe it. When ye

table, and of the table of devils, come together therefore into one Do we provoke the Lord to jea- place, this is not to (or ye cannot) lousy? are we stronger than he? eat the Lord’s supper. 1 Cor. xi. 1 Cor. x. 21, 22. True worshippers 19, 20. When ye did eat, and when shall worship the Father in spirit ye did drink, did not ye eat for and in truth. John iv. 23. The yourselves, and drink for your- natural man receiveth not the things selves. Zech. vii. 6. Without faith of the Spirit of God; they are it is impossible to please him. Heb. foolishness unto him : neither can xi. 6. He that doubteth is damned he know them, because they are if he eat, because he eateth not of spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii. 14. faith: for whatsoever is not of faith Not discerning the Lord’s body, is sin. Rom. xiv. 23. To whom 1 Cor. xi. 29. Purge out the old sware he that they should not enter leaven, that ye may be a new lump, into his rest, but to them that be- Let us keep the feast ; not with old lieved not? So we see they could leaven of malice and wickedness, not enter in because of unbelief, but with the unleavened bread of Heb. iii. 18, 19. Examine your- sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. selves, whether ye be in the faith ; Unto them that are defiled and prove your own selves. Know ye unbelieving is nothing pure, but not your own selves, how that Jesus even their mind and conscience is Christ is in you except ye be re- defiled. Tit. i. 15. When ye come probates? 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

rather d to their condemnation, do eat and drink the sign or sacrament of so great a thing.

J Q. Why then is the communicating of the sacrament damn- able to the wicked? A. Because they come to the holy and divine mysteries with hypocrisy and counterfeiting, and do wickedly profane them, to the great injury and dishonour of the Lord himself that ordained them. Nowell, p. 112.

So is the danger great, if we receive the same unworthily : for then we are guilty of the body and blood of Christ our Saviour ; we eat and drink our own damnation, not considering the Lord’s body ; we kindle God’s wrath against us ; we pro- voke him to plague us with divers diseases, and sundry kinds of

death. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an

hinderer or slanderer of his word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy table ; lest, after the taking of that holy sacrament, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to de- struction both of body and soul. Com. Serv.

d After the sop, Satan entered into Judas. John xiii. 27. Whoso- ever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drink- eth unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discern- ing the Lord’s body. For this

cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 1 Cor. xi. 27 — 31. To the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Ps. 1. 16. By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt, xii. 37.

A a