Also we believe that it is a confession, wherein we shew what kind of doctrine we profess, and what congregation we toyne our selves unto. And likewise that it is a bond of mutual love amongst us. And finally we believe that, all the comers unto this holy supper must bring with them their conversion unto the LORD, by unfeigned repentance in faith ⟨image 64⟩and in this Sacrament, receive thee seals and confirmation of their faith, and yet must in nowise think, that for this works sake, their since be forgiven. And as concerning these words, Hoc est corpus meū, this is my body, on which the papists depend so much, saying: that we must needs believe that the bread & wine be transubstantiated into Christs body & blood: We acknowledge ye it is no article of our faith, which can save us, nor which we are bound to believe upon pain of eternal dā nation: For if we should believe y• his very natural body, both flesh and blood, were naturally in the bred & wine, that should not save us, seeing many believe that, & yet receive it to their damnation. For it is not his presence in the bread, that can save us: but his presence in our hearts through faith in his blood, which hath washed out our ⟨image 65⟩since, and pacified the fathers wrath towards us. And again if we do not believe his bodily presence in the bread & wine, that shall not damn us: but the absence out of our hart through unbelief. Now if they would here object,1 that though it be trueth that the absence out of the bread could not damn us, yet are we bound to believe it, because of gods word, saying: this is my body, which who believeth not, as much as in him lieth, maketh God a liar, and therefore of an obstinate mind not to believe his word, may be our damnation. To this we answer2 that we believe gods word, & confess that it is true, bunt not so too be understand as the papists grossly affirm: form the Sacrament we receive Christ spiritually,3 as did the fathers of the old testament, according to S. Pauls saying. And if men would well ⟨image 65⟩weigh, how that Christ, ordaining this holy sacrament of his body and blood, spoke these words sacramentally, doubtless they would never so grossly & foolishly understand them, contrary to all the scriptures, and to the exposition of saint Augustine, saint Hierome, Fulgentius, Digilius, Origenes, and many other godly writers.
Also we beleue that it is a confession, wherein we sheroe what kynd of doctrine we professe, and what congregation we toyne our selfes vnto. And lykewise that it is a bōde of mutuall loue amōgst vs. And finally we beleue that, al the commers vnto thys holy supper muste bringe with them their conuersion vnto the LORD, by vnfayned repentaunce in faythe ⟨image 64⟩and in thys Sacramente, receyue thee seales and confirmation of their faythe, and yet muste in nowise think, that for this works sake, their syns be forgeuen. And as concerning these wordes, Hoc est corpus meū, this is my body, on whiche the papistes depend so much, sayeng: that we must nedes beleue that the breade & wyne bee transubstanciated intoo Christes body & bloud: We acknowledge ye it is no artikel of our fayth, which cāsaue vs, nor which we are boūd to beleue vpō payn of eternal dā nation: For if we should beleue y• hys very naturall body, both flesh and bloude, were naturally in the bred & wyne, that should not saue vs, seinge many beleue that, & yet receyue it to their damnation. For it is not his presence in the bread, that can saue vs: but his presence in our hartes through fayth in his bloud, which hath washed out our ⟨image 65⟩synnes, and pacified the fathers wrath towardes vs. And agayne if we doe not beleue hys bodielye presence in the bread & wyne, that shall not damne vs: but the absēce out of our hart thorow vnbelefe. Now if they wolde here obiecte,1 that though it be trueth that ye absence out of the breade coulde not damne vs, yet are we bounde to beleue it, because of gods worde, saying: thys is my bodye, whiche who beleueth not, as muche as in him lieth, maketh God a lyar, and therfore of an obstinat mynd not to beleue hys worde, maye be our damnation. To this we aunswere2 that we beleue gods worde, & confesse that it is trew, būt not so too be vnderstande as the papistes grossely affirme: form the Sacramēt we receiue Christ spiritually,3 as dyd the fathers of the olde testament, accordinge to S. Paules sayeng. And if men wolde well ⟨image 65⟩wey, how that Christ, ordeyning this holy sacrament of hys bodye and bloud, spoke these wordes sacramentally, doubtles they wolde neuer so grossely & foolishely vnderstand them, contrary to all the scriptures, and to the exposition of saynct Augustyn, sayncte Hierome, Fulgentius, Digilius, Origenes, and many other godly writers.
- 1ObjectionObiection
- 2Answer.Aunswer.
- 31. Cor. 11.
