Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of the Lords Supper.
IT followeth now to ſpeake of the Lords Supper, which is the other Sacrament of the new Teſtament. In the adminiſtration of which Sacrament, the order vſed by the Church of England, is, after due preparation by eueryevery ones tryall of themſelues in faith and repentance, to adminiſter it with declaration of the inſtitution of Chriſt, and of the doctrine ſigned and confirmed by it in the Engliſh tongue, that all the people may vnderſtand.
We doe alſo adminiſter it in both kinds, of bread and wine. Further the miniſter doth take the bread and giuegive thanks, breake it and deliuer it to the communicants. Likewiſe hee taketh the cup and after thanks-giuing, powreth out the wine in the cup to bee deliuered to all that are to bee partakers of the communion. The people that doe communicate receiue the bread and eate it, and the wine likewiſe, and drinke it.
Now the end and vſe of all this is added hereunto, which is in generall the ſolemne commemoration of the death of Chriſt. In particular, and that firſt in regard of God, and of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, to magnifie the goodneſſe of God, in not ſparing to giuegive his onelyonly begotten Sonne for the redemption of the world; and to giuegive him moſt due thankes for ſuch his vnſpeakable grace and mercy. It is likewiſe to glorifie our Sauiour Chriſt, and to giuegive thankes for his exceeding louelove to mankind, in that for our redemption, he hath vouch…fed to humble himſelfe to take vponupon him our nature and the forme of a Seruant, and in that nature to humble himſelfe for vsus euen to the death, and that the accurſſed death of the Croſſe.
In reſpect of men. viz, both of all other to profeſſe o…r Ch…iſtian faith; and alſo in regard of our ſelues, that our faith and by it our Communion with Chriſt may be increaſed, whereby wee may bee made more and more partakers of him, and of all his benefits, both of grace in this life, namely of the forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, of ſanctification, of gifts needfull for our particular calling, and in the world to come of euerlaſting life and glory. Finally, that theſe things being thus performed with thankſgiueings and petitions for our ſelues, and the whole militant Church of Chriſt, agreeably to Gods word, and that ſacred action, the whole adminiſtration is finiſhed to the glory of God, and the edification of ſuch as hauehave beene partakers of that holy table.
In all which adminiſtration there is nothing but that was taught and done by our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles.Math. 26.26, &c. Mark. 14.22, &c. Luk. 22.4, 19, &c. 1, Cor. 11, 22.23, &c. For our Sauiour at the firſt inſtitution of his holy Supper, deliuered the Doctrine which hee intended ſhould be confirmed by it, and that in a ſpeech vnderſtood by his Diſciples, and gaue commandement vntounto them to doe the like, and to ſhew forth by it, the comemmoration of his death vntill his coming againe. In like manner did the Apoſtles.Act. 2.42. For the Euangeliſt Luke reporting that the Diſciples continued in the doctrine of the Apoſtles in communication, in breaking of bread, and in prayers; declareth that the Apoſtles ioyned Doctrine with the adminiſtration of this Sacrament, and with prayer, & all the actions of that ſpirituall communion and ſocietie, which the Church of Chriſt at Ieruſalem had together. The like appeareth in the Apoſtle Paul, 1, Cor. 11.23.both in that hee profeſſeth to hauehave deliuered to the Corinthians concerning this Sacrament, that which hee had receiued of the Lord, and more particularly by that long ſpeech which hee had at Troas, before the adminiſtration of this Sacrament,Act. 20, 7. Act. 2.42. there alſo noted and comprehended vnderunder breaking of bread. Moreouer concerning the adminiſtration in both kinds, it is moſt manifeſt by the ſtory of the Goſpel, and by the writing of the Apoſtle Paul, that Ieſus Chriſt tooke bread, and brake it, and gaue it to his Diſciples; and likewiſe that he tooke wine, and hauing giuen thanks, not only gaue it to the Diſciples to drinke, but with theſe expreſſe words, Drinke yee all of this. Whereby it is moſt plaine that our adminiſtration of the Lords Supper, in both kinds, is according to that the Lord himſelfe did at the firſt inſtitution of it. Yea it is alſo according to that hee commanded after to bee done, in that he ſaid, Doe yee this in remembrance of mee; Mat. 26.27.And more particularly concerning the cup; Drinke yee all of this. Which being the Doctrine, practice, and commandement of the Lord himſelfe, it cannot be doubted but the Apoſtles did both ſo adminiſter it, and teach concerning the adminiſtration of it; eſpecially ſeeing the Apoſtle Paul profeſſeth (which faithfulneſſe is to be eſteemed to hauehave bene alſo in all the other Apoſtles) that hee deliuered to the Church that which hee receiued from the Lord. viz. as before hath bene declared, that the Lord deliuered to his Diſciples both bread and wine. Whereby it is to bee vnderſtood, that whereas ſometimes this Sacrament is noted or comprehended vnderunder the ſpeech of breaking bread, that it is not meant, that it was adminiſtred in bread only, but it is a ſpeech that by one part doth note the whole Supper of the Lord adminiſtred in both kindes of bread and wine; which is confirmed alſo to hauehave bene ſo deliuered by the Apoſtles, by the practice of the primitiue church, which did ſo adminiſter it, as it appeareth by the Apologie of Iuſtine Martyr, ſo reporting of the adminiſtration of it. Now as this order of adminiſtration of the Lords Supper vſed in our Engliſh church thus appeareth to hauehave beene receiued from the Doctrine, practiſe and commandement of Chriſt him ſelfe and of his Apoſtles, and ſo to hauehave beene vſed in the Primitiue Church; ſo on the Contrary part, the Sea of Rome hath in effect aboliſhed the Supper of the Lord in their Maſſe, hauing neither bread nor wine in the adminiſtration of it.
For the bread they ſay, after Conſecration is turned into the reall body of Chriſt, which being fleſh and bones, it followeth by their Doctrine, that there is no bread left in the Sacrament as it is miniſtred by them: which errours of the reall, and bodily preſence, and of the change and tranſubſtantiation of the bread into the fleſh of Chriſt, are conuicted to be moſt abſurd and erroneous both by the Scriptures, and by common ſence and reaſon. For the Scripture (euen after the conſecration and ſetting apart of the bread to that ſacred and holy vſe, to bee a Sacrament of the Lords Body) doth often call it bread, as it appeareth in the firſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians, Chap. 11. where it is ſaid, The Bread that wee breake is it not the Communion of the body of Chriſt? Pillip. 2.6.7. Heb. 4.15.And in the Chap. 11. As oft as yee ſhall eate of this bread, and after diuers times. This appeareth alſo in that the Scriptures teach that Chriſt became Man, hauing the true nature of man like to vsus in all things ſinne only excepted. Which prooueth that his body cannot bee in the ſmall compaſſe of a wafer cake, hauing the dimenſions and meaſures of length, breadth and thickneſſe, which other mens bodyes hauehave. And whereas it is pretended to bee ſo by miracle, this is diſproued two waies. Firſt, in that the Scriptures which make expreſſe mention of Chriſts miracles, doe neuer make mention nor obſeruation of any miracle to hauehave bene done by him, in this changing bread into his body. Secondly the Scriptures making mention of any miraculous change of one ſubſtance into another, doe declare that the change hath beene ſuch as was to bee iudged, diſcerned and perceiued by all meanes of vnderſtanding both of ſence and reaſon. As for example, when Chriſt changed water into wine,Iohn, 2.9: 10: 11. the wine was perceiued to be wine by the ſight and taſt ſo diſcerning of it. But in this caſe neither doth the eye ſee any fleſh, nor the taſt diſcerne of any, but contrariwiſe that the bread remaineth bread ſtill in ſubſtance appeareth by the ſight, ſmelling, ſauour, and the taſte thereof; by the effect of nouriſhing, by the place where it is on earth, and by the accidents of whiteneſſe, ſmalneſſe, roundneſſe, and by that it becometh in time to bee ſubiect to bee mouldy, and that it may bee eaten by Mice, and Vermine.
But it is moſt falſe, erronious, and blaſphemous, to affirme that the body of Chriſt which is moſt glorious in heauen, can bee ſubiect to any of theſe accidents. Beſides, how great is that blaſphemy whereby it is ſaid vnderunder pretence of this tranſubſtantiation, that the Prieſt is the Creator of his Creator, & maker of his maker; But it would aske a long time to lay out the arguments & reaſons that confute this abſurd & damnable error, and this labour is already partly beſtowed in anſwer to another queſtion of this kinde. Therefore thus much may heere ſuffice to ſhew, that by the errour of tranſubſtantiation, there is not left any bread vponupon the Lords table, by them that affi…me the bread to bee changed into fleſh, and therefore that this part of the Sacrament is wanting in the Maſſe. Now for the other, the ſame may bee ſaid concerning the wine, which they doe likewiſe teach to bee turne… into the very blood of Chriſt. But it appeareth alſo further, in that they hauehave ſacrilegiouſly robbed the Lords table of that bleſſed cup that belongeth to it. For although they ſuff…r the Prieſt to drinke of the cuppe, and the people alſo to drinke wine, yet the wine that they giuegive the people is not conſecrated nor any part of the Sacrament. Therefore in ſuch adminiſtration is committed a ſacrilegious abuſe, in robbing the Lords table and his people of the cuppe of bleſſing, which is the communion (as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaketh) of the blood of Chriſt: and contr…riwiſe our adminiſtration of the Lord Supper in both kinds of bread and wine, is according to the Doctrine, practice, and commandement, of our Sauiour Chriſt and of his Apoſtles.
Furthermore as by this meanes the Sea of Rome hath aboliſhed both parts of the Sacrament, ſo hath it peruerted the right end and vſe for which it was inſtituted. For t…at being as hath beene declared, and as it is made knowne to the people in our adminiſtration of it, to bee a S…cram…nt, whereby wee celebrate the memory of the death of Chriſt for our ſinnes, to the ſigning and confirming vntounto vsus our ſpirituall communion with him, to the participation of all his giftes, euen to life euerlaſting:
The Church of Rome hath tranſfigured this Sacrament into a ſacrifice propitiatory for the ſinnes of the liuing, and of the dead. And to this end they hauehave brought into the Church of Chriſt contrary to his word, a Prieſt, and an Altar, that nothing might bee wanting to the offering of their ſacrifice. In which ſacrifice they teach that the Prieſt doth off…r Chriſt eueryevery day vntounto his Father, as a ſacrifice to take away ſinnes. Of which propitiatory Sacrifice our Sauiour Chriſt, & his Apoſtles hauehave made no mention at all, but onelyonly of a commemoration of the death of Chriſt, in the celebration whereof, wee magnifie God and our Sauiour, for ſuch vnſpeakeable mercy and goodneſſe, and ſo offer as it were a Sacrifice of thankſgiuing, pleaſing and acceptable to God in Chriſt Ieſus. But of offering a ſacrifice propitiatory to take away our ſinnes, and that daily, and by the Prieſt, there is no word in the Scripture for it.
Contrariwiſe the Scriptures teach directly the contrary, and declare this Doctrine to bee full of errour and Blaſphemy. For the Scriptures teach vsus, that there is but one only Sacrifice that taketh away the ſinnes of men, which is that holy Sacrifice which our Sauiour Chriſt offered of himſelfe, that is, of his humane nature aſſumed for that purpoſe, and that by his eternall Spirit, and that alſo once for all,Heb. 9.14.25, 26, 28. namely dying vponupon the Altar of the croſſe: and by the Sacrifice ſo offered, he hath obtained an euerlaſting redemption. Wherefore to affirme that the Prieſt offereth Chriſt daily in Sacrifice for ſinnes, derogateth highly from the death of Chriſt, wh reby the ſinnes of the faithfull are taken away, as if that had not beene ſufficient; contrary to the whole courſe of the Scripture, attributing our redemption to his death and blood ſhed vponupon the Croſſe. Secondly, This Doctrine highly derogateth from the vertue of the death of Chriſt, in that it teacheth, that Chriſt muſt bee daily offered for ſinne; whereas the Scriptures teach expreſly the contrary, ſaying that Chriſt was to dye but once,Rom. 3.24, 25. Rom: 5.8.9. Gal. 2.14. Heb. 9.25. and to be off…red but once, and ſo to enter into heauen, and not as the High-Prieſt in the Law once eueryevery yeare offered ſacrifice, and ſo entered into the holy place. For then as the Apoſtle there teacheth he ſhould hauehave ſuffered often ſince the beginning of the world: But now ſaith he, in the end and conſummation of the world, Chriſt was manifeſted to aboliſh ſinne, by the ſacrifice of himſelfe. Moreouer, it is ſayd, that Chriſt offered his ſacrifice by his eternall Spirit,Heb. 9.26 whereby wee are taught, that it was by the power of his Godhead, that his ſacrifice and …lo…d, was of ſo pretious, ineſtimable and infinite value, as being the blood of God, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh …lſewhere, which redeemed and purchaſed the Church.Act. 20.28. Therefore it is open blaſphemy to affirme, that the Prieſt offereth Chriſt vntounto his Father a Sacrifice for ſinne, which the Scriptures attributeth to Chriſts eternall Spirit and Godhead.
Furthermore, many other are the abuſes committed by the Church of Rome, in abuſing this holy Sacrament, to ſundry other ends, for which Chriſt did neuer ordaine it. For they abuſe it to obtaine bodily health, and proſperous ſucceſſe of voyages at Sea, of battels, of marriage, and ſuch like. They abuſe it to recouer things that are loſt, to the quenching of Fire, to the calming of Stormes and Tempeſts at Sea, and at Land; to ratifie leagues, to triall of the innocent in Criminall cauſes, and finally to deliuer ſoules (as they faine) out of Purgatory.
For theſe and ſuch like ends, they hauehave Maſſes ſaid and ſung, and peruert the moſt holy ordinance of Chriſt, to their ſecular and prophane deſires. Moreouer, according to the Doctrine of our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles, this Sacrament is with vsus to bee adminiſtred, ſo as not onelyonly the Miniſter alone receiue it, but others with him. For ſo our Sauiour deliuered it to his Diſciples, and ſaid, Take ye, eate, and drinke yee all of this. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul calleth the bread of the Lords table, the Communion of the Lords body; and the cuppe of bleſſing, the Communion of his blood: Whereby it is playne, that this Sacrament ought to bee adminiſtred in a Congregation of the faithfull and Chriſtian people, which together with the miniſter ſhould be partakers of the Lords table.
But contrary to this ordinance of Chriſt are all the priuate Maſſes of the Church of Rome, in that the Prieſt alone hauing eaten vp his hoſt (as hee calleth it) and drunke vp his wine, ſendeth the people empty away, after that hee hath bleſt them with the empty cuppe, to the high diſhonour of God, and the intollerable ſcorne and deriſion of his people. Heereunto is to be added that horrible idolatrie, that is the abominable fruit of the monſtrous errour of Tranſubſtantiation. For from hence-came the eleuation and adoration of the wafer-cake, which the Prieſt with his backe toward the people, lifting vp ouer his head, all the people preſent falling downe vponupon their knees, and knocking their breaſts religiouſly worſhip and adore euen with the ſame adoration which themſelues acknowledge to bee done to God. And after the Maſſe finiſhed and ended, they reſ…rue the wafer-cake remaining, whereas by the Scripture eueryevery Sacrament, is a Sacrament onelyonly in the lawfull vſe of it, and while that ſacred action bee adminiſtred and finiſhed. For as the water of Baptiſme, after the vſe of it in baptizing ſuch as are to be baptized, is not reſerued; no more ought the Sacramentall bread to be kept and layd vp in ſtore: yet to the eleuation and adoration mentioned, they add alſo this reſeru…tion of the bread and incloſing it in a pixe, and that alſo for idolatrous vſes.
For both daily as occaſion requireth in viſitation of the ſicke, they carry this Idoll with pompe throughout the ſtreets, and compell all that meete it, to worſhip and adore it; and once in the yeare, in the day which they hauehave made feſtiuall for that purpoſe, with great pompe and ſolemmity they carry it in proceſſion to be worſhipped & adored by the people. Finally whereas our Sauiour Chriſt hath ordained this holy Sacrament, to be adminiſtred in that ſincerity, and ſimplicity, declared in his word; the Sea of Rome hath deuiſed to adminiſter it in ſuch manner as is fitter for a play vponupon a ſtage, or ſome pompous ſolemnity, then for the graue and reuerend adminiſtration of that holy Sacrament. For all furniture belonging to it, is coſtly & ſumptuous, there is muſique to pleaſe the eares, ſweete odors and perfumes to ſm…ll, there are to behold whatſoeuer pretious Images decked with gold and pretious ſtones, and coſtly garments. The Prieſt cloath…d richly as Aaron, ſtandeth at the Altar ſhining with burning lights, with his attendants in Sylke and fine Linnen, all the people being behind him afarre off. There he playeth many ſtrange parts, ſomtime hee ſtandeth ſtill, ſometime hee walketh a little, one while hee is vpright, another while hee boweth himſelfe; hee ſeemeth to bee aſleepe and to awake againe, hee turneth altogether, and halfe round; his armes are ſometimes ſpread abroad, ſometimes drawne in againe; ſometimes lift vp, and ſometime caſt downe: his fingers are ſtill occupied in making croſſes, hee ſoftly murmureth ſomething with himſelfe, and he whiſpereth ouer the bread and the cuppe; at the laſt when hee hath done playing, hee eateth vp his hoſt, and drinketh vp his wine with great care that hee leaueth not a droppe. Then hauing waſhed after his banquet, hee turneth himſelfe to the people, and bleſſing th…m with the empty cuppe, bidd…th them depart. What can bee more vnlike the ſacred adminiſtration of the Lords Supper, then this hiſtrionicall ſeruice of an Idoll of Bread, which they worſhip and eate vp?
Wherewith if our adminiſtration of this holy Sacrament bee compared, and either of them with the Lords inſtitution, it will manifeſtly appeare that their M…ſſe hath no reſemblance with the Lords Supper, and that for moſt iuſt and neceſſary cauſes, the manifold abuſes of it are reformed in our Church. It will alſo appeare that the communion celebrated in our Churches: Firſt, with declaration of the Doctrine, ſigned by it in the vulgar tongue. Secondly, in both kinds of bread and wine. Thirdly, in commemoration of the death of Chriſt, with due prayſes and prayers annexed thereunto. Fourthly, in that it is truely a Communion, being communicated with the Aſſembly of Gods people. Fiftly, It is freed from Popiſh tranſubſtantiation, eleuation, adoration, reſeruation, and Pompous carrying abroad in the ſtreets, Sacrifices, Sacrificer, and Altar, and from many ſuch other like errours, ſuperſtitions, Idolatries, Blaſphemies, and ridiculous follies, as hauehave corrupted, peruerted, and tranſfigured into an abhominable Idoll the moſt holy, ſacred and comfortable ordinance and Sacrament of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. And thus farre of the word and Sacram…nts.