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| Chapter 30 - Of the Lord's
Supper |
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1. The supper of the Lord Jesus
was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed
in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance,
and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of
the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment,
and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which
they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him,
and with each other.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians
10:16, 17,21
2. In this ordinance Christ
is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for
remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one
offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual
oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish
sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to
Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
Hebrews 9:25, 26, 28; 1 Corinthians
11:24; Matthew 26:26, 27
3. The Lord Jesus hath, in
this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements
of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy
use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating
also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, etc.
4. The denial of the cup to
the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying
them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious
use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution
of Christ.
Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus
20:4, 5
5. The outward elements in
this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such
relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively,
they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to
wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they
still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians
11:26-28
6. That doctrine which maintains
a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's
body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of
a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but
even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance,
and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross
idolatries.
Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6, 39; 1 Corinthians
11:24, 25
7. Worthy receivers, outwardly
partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly
by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually
receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death;
the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but
spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the
elements themselves are to their outward senses.
1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians
11:23-26
8. All ignorant and ungodly
persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they
unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him,
while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted
thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
2 Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1 Corinthians
11:29; Matthew 7:6 |