A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

Now remaineth to be spoken of the number of communicants / & that there is fault in the appointing of the service book / not only for that it admitteth in the time of plague / that one with the minister may celebrate the supper of the Lord in the house / but for that it ordaineth a communion in the church / when of a great number which assemble there / it admitteth three or four / the abuse and inconvenience whereof may thus be considered. The holy sacrament of the supper of the Lord / is not only a seal and confirmation of the promises of God unto us / but also a profession of our conjunction / as well with Christ our saviour and with God / as also (as S. Paul teacheth) a declaration and profession that we ¹are at one with our brethren: so that it is first a sacrament of the knitting of all the body generally / and of every member particularly with the head / and then of the members of the body one with an other. Now therefore seeing that every particular church and body of Gods people / is a representation / and as it were a lively portraiture of the whole church and body of Christ / it followeth that that which we can not do with all the church scattered throughout the whole world (for the distances of places whereby we are severed) we ought to do with that church whereunto God hath ranged us / as much as possibly or conveniently may be. The departing therefore of the rest of the church from those three or four / is an open profession that they have no communion / fellowship / nor unity with them / that do communicate: and likewise of those three or four / that they have none with the rest that join not them selves thereunto: when as both by the many grapes making one cup / and corns making one loaf / that whole church being many parsons / are called as to the unity which they have one with an other / and altogether amongst them selves: so to the declaration and profession of it / by receiving one with an other / and altogether amongst them selves: ⟨p. 148⟩And as if so be that we do not celebrate as we may possibly and conveniently / the supper of the Lord / we thereby utter our want of love towards the Lord which hath redeemed us: so if we do not communicate together with the church / so far forth as we may do conveniently / we betray the want of our love that we have one towards an other. And therefore S.

Now remayneth to be spoken of the number of communicants / & that there is fault in the appoynting of the seruice booke / not only for that it admitteth in the tyme of plage / that one with ye mynister may celebrate the supper of the Lord in the house / but for that it ordayneth a communion in the church / when of a great number which assemble there / it admitteth three or fower / the abuse and inconuenience whereof may thus bee considered. The holy sacrament of the supper of the Lorde / is not only a seale and confirmation of the promises of God vnto vs / but also a profession of our coniunction / as well with Christ our sauiour and with God / as also (as S. Paule teacheth) a declaration and profession that wee