The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

for as Ceremonies (such as men have devised) are but temporal, so may, and ought they to be changed, when they rather foster superstition, then that they edify the Church using the same. XXI. Of the Sacraments. AS the Fathers under the Law,¹ besides the verity of the Sacrifices had two chief Sacraments; to wit, Circumcision and the Passover, the despisers and contemners whereof were not reputed for Gods people: ⟨p. 268⟩so we acknowledge and confess, That we now in time of the Gospel, have two Sacraments only, instituted by the Lord Jesus, and commanded to be used by all those that will be reputed to be Members of his Body; to wit,² Baptism; and, The Supper, or Table of the Lord Jesus, called, The Communion of his Body and Blood. And these Sacraments (as well of the Old as of the New Testament) were instituted of God, not only to make a visible difference betwixt his people, and those that were without his league; but also to exercise the Faith of his children, and by participation of the same Sacraments, to seal in their hearts the assurance of his promise, and of that most blessed Conjunction, Union, and Society, which the Elect have with their Head, Christ Jesus. And thus we utterly condemn the vanity of those, that affirm Sacraments to be nothing else but naked and bare signs:³ No, we assuredly believe, That by Baptism we are ingrafted into Jesus Christ, to be made partakers of his Justice, by the which our sins are covered and remitted. And also, That in the Supper rightly used, Christ Jesus is so joined with us, that he becometh the very nourishment and food of our souls. Not that we imagine any Transubstantiation of Bread into Christs natural Body; and of Wine into his natural Blood (as the Papists have perniciously taught, and damnably believed) but this Union and Communion which we have with the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus in the right use of the Sacraments, is wrought by operation of the holy Ghost, who by true Faith carrieth us above all things that are visible,⁴ carnal, and earthly, and maketh us to feed upon the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, which was once broken and shed for us, which now is in the heaven, and appeareth in the presence of his Father for us. And yet notwithstanding the far distance of place which is betwixt his Body now glorified in the heaven, and us now mortal in this earth: