The Sum of Christian Religion

The general points wherein the churches which profess the Gospel, agree or disagree in the controversy concerning the Lords Supper. They agree in these points.

The generall points wherein the churches which professe the Gospell, agree or disagree in the controuersie concerning the Lordes Supper. They agree in these points.

FIRST, that as well the Supper of the Lord as Baptism, is a visible pledge and testimony annexed by Christ himself to the promise of grace, to this end chiefly, that our faith in this promise might be confirmed and strengthened.

FIRST, that as wel the Supper of the Lord as Baptisme, is a visible pledge and testimonie annexed by Christ himselfe to the promise of grace, to this ende chiefly, that our faith in this promise might be confirmed and strengthned.

Secondly, that in the true use of the supper, as well as in all other sacraments, two things are given by god unto us, & are received of us, namely, earthly, external, and visible signs, as are bread and wine; and besides these, also heavenly, internal, and invisible gifts, as are the true body of Jesus Christ together with all his gifts and benefits, and heavenly treasures.

Secondly, that in the true vse of the supper, as well as in al other sacraments, two things are giuen by god vnto vs, & are receiued of vs, namelie, earthly, externall, and visible signs, as are bread and wine; and besides these, also heauenlie, internall, and inuisible gifts, as are the true bodie of Iesus Christ together with al his gifts and benefits, and heauenlie treasures.

Thirdly, that in the supper we are made partakers not only of the spirit of Christ and his satisfaction, justice, virtue, and operation, but also of the very substance and essence of his true-body and blood, which was given for us to death on the cross, and which was shed for us; and are truly fed with the self-same unto eternal life: and that this very thing christ should teach us and make known unto us by this visible receiving of this bread and wine in his supper.

Thirdly, that in the supper we are made partakers not onlie of the spirit of Christ and his satisfaction, iustice, vertue, and operation, but also of the verie substaunce and essence of his true-bodie and bloud, which was giuen for vs to death on the crosse, and which was shed for vs; and are trulie fed with the selfe-same vnto eternal life: and that this verie thing christ should teach vs and make knowen vnto vs by this visible receiuing of this bread and wine in his supper.

Fourthly, That the bread and wine are not changed into the flesh and blood of Christ, but remain true and natural bread and wine: that also the body and blood of christ are not shut up into the bread and wine, and therefore the bread and wine are called of christ his body and blood, in this sense, for that his body and blood are not only signified by these, and set before our eyes, but also because as often as we eat and drink this bread and wine, in the true and right use, Christ himself giveth us his body and blood indeed to be the meat and drink of eternal life.

Fourthly, That the bread and wine are not changed into the flesh and bloud of Christ, but remaine true and natural bread and wine: that also the bodie and bloud of christ are not shut vp into the bread and wine, and therefore the bread and wine are called of christ his bodie and bloud, in this sense, for that his bodie and bloud are not onlie signified by these, and set before our eies, but also because as often as we eat and drink this bread and wine, in the true and right vse, Christ himselfe giueth vs his body and bloud indeed to be the meat and drink of eternal life.

Fifthly, That without the right use this receiving of bread and wine is no sacrament, neither any thing, but an empty and vain ceremony and spectacle, and such as men abuse to their own damnation.

Fiftly, That without the right vse this receiuing of bread and wine is no sacrament, neither anie thing, but an emptie and vaine ceremonie and spectacle, and such as men abuse to their own damnation.

Sixthly, That there is no other true and lawful use of the supper, ⟨p. 791⟩besides that, which Christ himself hath instituted, and commanded to be kept, namely this: that this bread and this wine be eaten and drunken in remembrance of him, and to show forth his death.

Sixtly, That there is no other true and lawful vse of the supper, ⟨p. 791⟩besides that, which Christ himselfe hath instituted, and commaunded to be kept, namelie this: that this bread and this wine be eaten and drunken in remembrance of him, and to shew forth his death.

Seventhly, that Christ in his supper doth not command and require a dissembled and hypocritical remembrance of him and publishing of his death: but such as embraceth his passion and death, and all his benefits obtained by these for us, by a true and lively faith, and with earnest and ardent thankfulness, and applieth them unto those which eat and drink as proper unto them.

Seuenthly, that Christ in his supper dooth not commaund and require a dissembled and hypocritical remembraunce of him and publishing of his death: but such as embraceth his passion and death, and all his benefites obtained by these for vs, by a true and liuelie faith, and with earnest and ardent thankefulnesse, and applieth them vnto those which eate and drink as proper vnto them.

Eighthly, that Christ will dwell in believers only, and in them, who not through contempt, but through necessity cannot come to the Lords supper, yea in all believers, even from the beginning of the world to all eternity, even as well and after the same manner, as he will dwell in them, who came unto the Lords Supper.

Eightly, that Christ will dwell in beleeuers onelie, and in them, who not through contempt, but through necessitie cannot come to the Lords supper, yea in al beleeuers, euē from the beginning of the woorld to all eternitie, euen as well and after the same manner, as hee will dwell in them, who came vnto the Lords Supper.

They disagree in these points.

They disagree in these pointes.

FIRST, that one part contendeth, that these words of Christ, This is my body, must be understood, as the words sound, which yet that part it self doth not: but the other part, that those words must be understood sacramentally, according to the declaration of Christ and Paul, according to the most certain and unfallible rule and level of the articles of our christian faith.

FIRST, that one part contendeth, that these woordes of Christ, This is my bodie, must be vnderstood, as the words sound, which yet that part it selfe doth not: but the other part, that those words must be vnderstoode sacramentallie, according to the declaration of Christ and Paul, according to the most certaine and vnfallible rule and leuil of the articles of our christian faith.

Secondly, that one part will have the body & blood of christ to be essentially In or With the bread & wine, & so to be eaten, as that together with the bread & the wine, out of the hand of the minister, it entereth by the mouth of the receivers into their bodies: but the other part will have the body of christ, which in the first supper sate at the table by the disciples, now to be & continue, not here on earth, but above in the heavens, above and without this visible world and heaven, until he descend thence again to judgement: and yet that we notwithstanding here on earth, as oft as we eat this bread with a true faith, are so fed with his body, and made to drink of his blood, that not only through his Passion and bloodshed we are cleansed from our sins, but are also in such sort coupled, knit and incorporated into his true, essential, humane body, by his spirit dwelling both in him and us, as that we are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, and are more nearly, and firmly knit and united with him, than the members of our body are united with our head, and so we draw and have in him and from him everlasting life.

Secōdly, that one part wil haue the bodie & bloud of christ to be essentiallie Jn or With the bread & wine, & so to be eaten, as that together with the bread & the wine, out of the hād of the minister, it entereth by the mouth of the receiuers into their bodies: but the other part wil haue the body of christ, which in the first supper sate at the table by the disciples, now to be & cōtinue, not here on earth, but aboue in the heauens, aboue and without this visible world and heauen, vntill hee descend thence againe to iudgement: and yet that we notwithstanding here on earth, as oft as wee eate this bread with a true faith, are so fed with his bodie, and made to drink of his bloud, that not onlie through his Passion and bloudshed we are cleansed from our sinnes, but are also in such sort coupled, knit and incorporated into his true, essential, humane bodie, by his spirit dwelling both in him and vs, as that we are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, and are more neerly, and firmlie knit and vnited with him, than the members of our bodie are vnited with our head, and so wee drawe and haue in him and from him euerlasting life.

Thirdly, That one part will have all whosoever come to the Lords supper and eat and drink that bread and wine, whether they be believers, or unbelievers, to eat and drink corporally and with their bodily mouth the flesh and blood of Christ; believers, to life and salvation; unbelievers to damnation and death: the other holdeth, that unbelievers abuse indeed the outward signs, bread and wine, to their own damnation: but that the faithful only can eat and drink by a true faith, and the fore alleged working of •he holy Ghost, the body and blood of Christ unto eternal life.

Thirdly, That one part will haue all whosoeuer come to the Lordes supper and eate and drinke that breade and wine, whether they bee beleeuers, or vnbeleeuers, to eate and drinke corporallie and with their bodilie mouth the flesh and bloud of Christ; beleeuers, to life and saluation; vnbeleeuers to damnation and death: the other holdeth, that vnbeleeuers abuse indeede the outwarde signs, bread and wine, to their own damnation: but that the faithful onelie can eate and drinke by a true faith, and the fore alleaged working of •he holie Ghost, the bodie and bloud of Christ vnto eternal life.