A26895:150
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and…
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and the Lords prayer, and, II, more largely in a profession taken out of the Holy Scriptures, containing 1, the articles of the Christian belief, 2, our consent to the gospel covenant, 3, the sum of Christian duty, according to the primitive simplicity, purity, and practice, fitted to the right instruction of the ignorant, the promoting of holiness, and the charitable concord of all true believers ... / by Richard Baxter.
London : s.n., 1660
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
42. Jesus Christ having finished the work of Redemption, which he was to do on earth, in the days of his flesh, ascended and is glorified with the Father, and being ⟨p. 51⟩become the perfect head and treasure of the Church, hath in his Testament or new Covenant made a free gift of himself and life to all that will receive him as he is offered; and he hath appointed his Ministers not only to proclaim this gift unto the world, but also in his name to deliver it to the Church: And it is a great encouragement and comfort to Believers, that it is a Minister or Agent of Christ himself, that by his command, and in his name doth say to them [Take ye, eat ye, this is my Body which is broken for you.] And [this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, drink ye all of it]; Christ himself with his saving benefits, being herewith as truly offered to their faith, as the signs and representations are offered to their hands and mouths. Though it be still but (consecrated) bread and wine that doth represent, yet is it the very Body and Blood of Christ that is represented; and Christ himself as the Head of the Church, and fountain of our renewed life, and as our spiritual nourishment, that is truly given us, and received by us.
43. It is therefore unmeet for any but a lawful Minister of Christ, who is authorized hereunto, to administer this holy Sacrament: ⟨p. 52⟩both because no other are called to it in the holy Scripture, nor can show any warrant for such an undertaking; and because it is very injurious to the comfort of the Church, when they know not that the person hath any authority to deliver them so great a mercy from the Lord, nor whether Christ will own his ministration.
43. It is therefore unmeet for any but a lawful Minister of Christ, who is authorized hereunto, to administer this holy Sacrament: ⟨p. 52⟩