The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 1
OF THE SACRAMENTES.
65 Seeing then that onelyonly faith maketh vsus partakers of Chriſt, and his benefites, whence doth it proceede?
From the holy Ghoſt, whoaEp. 2.8. & 6.23. Ioh. 3.5. Phil. 1.29. kindleth it in our harts by the preaching of the goſpel, &bMat. 28.19.20. 1. Pet. 1.22.23. confirmeth it by the vſe of the ſacraments.
66 What are the Sacraments?
They are ſacred ſignes and ſeals ſet before our eies, and ordained of God for this cauſe, that hee may declare and ſeal by them the promiſe of his goſpel vntounto vsus, to wit, that he giueth freely remiſſion of ſinnes, and lifecGen. 17.11. Rom. 4.11. Deu. 30.6. Leu. 6.25. Heb. 9.8.9. Eze. 20.12.1. Sam. 17.36. Iſa. 6.6.7. & 54.9. euerlaſting not only to al in general, but to eueryevery one in particular that beleeueth, for that onelyonly ſacrifice of Chriſt which hee accompliſhed vponupon the croſſe.
67 Doe not then both the woorde and Sacramentes tend to that ende, as to leade our faith vntounto the Sacrifice of Chriſt finiſhed on the croſſe, as to the onelyonly ground of our ſaluation?
It is euen ſo. For the holy Ghoſt teacheth vsus by the Goſpell, and aſſureth vsus by the Sacramentes, that the ſaluation of al of vsus ſtandeth in the onlie ſacrifice of ChriſtdRom. 6.3. Gal. 3.27. offered for vsus vponupon the croſſe.
68 How many ſacramentes hath Chriſt ordained in the new Teſtament?
Two. Baptiſme, and the holy Supper.
OF BAPTISME.
69 Howe art thou admoniſhed and aſſured in Baptiſme, that thou art partaker of the only ſacrifice of Chriſt?
Becauſe ChriſteMat. 28.19. Act. 2.38. commaunded the outwarde waſhing of water, adioining thisfMar. 16.16. Mat. 3.11. Rom. 6.3. promiſe thereunto, that I am no leſſe aſſuredly waſhed by his bloode and ſpirite from the vncleanneſſe of my ſoule, that is, from all my ſinnes, than I amaMar. 1.4. Luc. 3.3. waſhed outwardelie with water, whereby al the filthineſſe of the bodie vſeth to bee purged.
70 What is it to be waſhed with the blood and spirit of Chriſt?
It is to receiue of God forgiueneſſe of ſinnes freelie for the bloode of CHRIST which heebHeb. 12.24.1. Pet. 1.2. Apoc. 1.5. &. 22.14. Zac. 13.1. Eze. 36.25. &c. ſhedde for vsus in his Sacrifice on the Croſſe. And alſo to bee renewed by the holie Ghoſt, and thorough his ſanctifying of vsus to become members of Chriſt, that wee maie more and more die to ſinne, andcIoh. 1.33. & 3.5. 1. Cor. 6.11. & 12.13. Rom. 6.4. Col. 2.12. liue holily and without blame.
71 Where dooth Chriſt promiſe vsus that hee will as certainlie waſh vsus with his bloode and ſpirite, as wee are waſhed with the water of baptiſme?
In the inſtitution of Baptiſme; the wordes whereof are theſe:dMat. 28.19. Goe and teach all Nations, Baptiſing them in the name of the father, the ſonne, and the holy Ghoſt. eMar. 16.16.He that ſhall beleeue and be baptiſed, ſhall bee ſaued: but he that will not beleeue, ſhal bee damned. This promiſe is repeated againe, whereas the Scripture calleth Baptiſme, the fTit. 3.5.waſhing of the new birth, and gAct. 22.16.forgiueneſſe of ſinnes.
72 Is then the outwarde Baptiſme of water the waſhing away of ſinnes?
It is not. For thehMat. 3.11. 1. Pet. 3.21. Eph 5.26. bloud of Chriſt alone cleanſeth vsus from alli1. Ioh. 1.7. 1. Cor. 6.11. ſinne.
73 Why then doth the holie Ghoſt call Baptiſme the waſhing of the newe birth, and forgiuenes of ſinnes?
God ſpeaketh ſo not without great cauſe: to wit, not onelyonly to teache vsus, that as the filth of our bodie is purged by water, ſo our ſinnes alſo arekApoc. 1.5. & 7.14.1. 1. Cor. 6.11. purged by the bloud and ſpirite of Chriſt: but much more to aſſure vsus by this diuine token and pledge, that wee are as verily waſhed from our ſinnes with the inwarde waſhing, as we arelMar. 16.16. Gal. 3.17. waſhed by the outward and viſible water.
74 Are infantes to be baptiſed alſo?
What elſe? for ſeeing theyaGen. 17.7. belong as well vntounto the couenaunt & Church of God, as they who are of a full age; and ſeeing alſo vntounto them is promiſedbMat. 19.14. remiſſion of ſinnes by the bloude of Chriſt and thecLuc. 1.14.15. Pſal. 22.11. Iſa. 24.1.2.3. Act. 2.39. holy Ghoſt the worker of faith, as well as vntounto thoſe of full growth: They are by Baptiſme to bee ingrafted into the Church of God, and to bedAct. 10.47. diſcerned from the children of infidels, in like ſort as in the olde Teſtament was done byeGen. 17.14. circumciſion, in place whereof isfCol. 2.11.12.13. Baptiſme ſucceeded in the new Teſtament.
OF THE LORDS SVPPER.
75 How art thou in the Lords Supper admoniſhed and warranted, that thou art partaker of that onelyonly ſacrifice of Chriſt offered on the Croſſe, and of all his benefites?
Becauſe Chriſt hath commaunded me and all the faithfull to eate of this breade broken, and to to drinke of the cup diſtributed in remembrance of him, with this promiſegMat. 26.27.28. Mar. 14.22.23.24. Luc. 22.16.20. 1. Cor. 10.16.17. & 11.23.24.25. & 12.13. adioined. Firſt, that his bodie was as certainly broken and offred for me on the Croſſe, and his bloud ſhed for me, as I behold with my eies the bread of the Lord broken vntounto me, and the cup communicated to me: and further that my ſoul is no leſſe aſſuredly fed to euerlaſting life with his bodie, which was crucified for vsus, and his bloud, which was ſhedde for vsus: than I receiue and taſt by the mouth of my bodie the bread and wine, the ſignes of the bodie and bloud of our Lord, receiued at the hand of the Miniſter.
76 What is it to eate the bodie of Chriſt crucified, and to drinke his bloud that was ſhed?
It is not onelyonly to imbrace by an aſſured confidence of minde, the whole paſſion and death of Chriſt, and thereby tohIoh. 6.35.40.47.48.50.51.53.54. obtain forgiuenes of ſins and euerlaſting life, but alſo by the holy Ghoſt, who dwelleth both in Chriſt and vsus, ſo more and more to beeaIoh. 6.56. vnited to his ſacred bodie, that though he be inbAct. 3.21. Act. 1.9. &c. 1. Cor. 11.26. heauen, and we in earth, yet neuertheleſſe are wee fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of hiscEph. 5.29.30.32. 1. Cor. 6.15.17.19. 1. Ioh. 3.24. & 4.13. Ioh. 14 23. bones; and as all the members of the bodie are by one ſoule, ſo are wee alſo quickened anddIo. 6.56.57.58. Io. 15.1.2.3.4.5.6. Eph. 4.15.16. guided by one and the ſame ſpirite.
77 Where hath Chriſt promiſed, that he will as certainely giuegive his bodie and bloude ſo to bee eaten and dronken, as they eate this breade broken, and drinke this cup?
In the inſtitution of his ſupper; the wordes whereof are theſe:e1. Cor. 11.23. &c. Mat. 26.26. &c. Mar. 14.22. &c. Luc. 22.19. &c. Our Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the night that he was betraied, tooke bread. And when he had giuen thankes, he brake it, and ſaid, Take, eate, this is my bodie which is broken for you: this doe you in remembrance of me. Likewiſe alſo he tooke the cup when he had ſupped, and ſaide, fExod. 24.8. Heb. 9.20.This cup is the Newe Teſtament in my bloud: gExod. 13.9.this doe as often as yee ſhall drinke it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye ſhal eat this bread and drinke this cup, ye ſhewe the Lordes death till he come. This promiſe is repeated by Saint Paul, when he ſaith: The cup of thankeſgiuing, wherewith we giuegive thankes, is it not the Communion of the bloud of Chriſt? The bread which we breake, is it not the communion of the bodie of Chriſt? h1. Cor. 10.16.17.For wee that are manie are one bread and one bodie, becauſe wee all are partakers of one bread.
78 Are then the bread and wine, made the verie bodie and bloud of Chriſt?
No verily. But as the water of baptiſme isiMath. 26.29. Mar. 14.24. not turned into the bloud of Chriſt, but is only a ſign and pledge of thoſe thinges that are ſealed to vsus in Baptiſme: So neither is the bread of the Lords Supper the verie bodie ofk1. Cor. 10.16. &c. & 11.26. &c Chriſt: Although according to the manner of Sacramentes, and thatiGen. 17.10. &c. Exod. 26.27.43.48. & 13 9. Act. 7.8. Exo. 24.8. Le. 16.10. & 17.11. Iſa. 6.6.7. Tit. 3.5. Act. 22.16. 1. Pet. 3.21. 1. Cor. 10.1. forme of ſpeaking of them which is vſuall vntounto the holy Ghoſt, the bread is called the body of Chriſt.
79 Why then doth Chriſt call breade his bodie, and the cup his bloud, or the new Teſtament in his bloud; and Paul alſo calleth bread and wine, the Communion of the bodie and bloude of Chriſt?
Chriſt not without great conſideration ſpeaketh ſo: to wit, not onelyonly for to teach vsus, that as the bread and wine ſuſtaine the life of the body; ſo alſo his crucified body and bloudſhed are indeed the meat & drinke of our ſoul, whereby it isaIohn. 6.51.55.56. nouriſhed to eternall life: but much more, that by this viſible ſigne and pledge he may aſſure vsus, that wee are as verily partakers of his bodie and bloud, through the working of the holy ghoſt, as wee doeb1. Cor. 10.16.17. perceiue by the mouth of our bodie theſe holie ſignes in remembraunce of him: and further alſo, that his ſuffering and obedience is ſo certainely ours, as though we our ſelues had ſuffered puniſhments for our ſinnes, and had ſatiſfied God.
80 What difference is there betweene the Supper of the Lord, and the Popiſh Maſſe?
The Supper of the Lord teſtifieth to vsus that we hauehave perfect forgiueneſſe of all our ſinnes for that only Sacrifice of Chriſt which himſelf once fullycHeb. 7.27. & 9 12.26.28. & 10.10.12.14. Iohn. 19.30 Mat. 26.28. Luc. 22.19.20. wrought on the Croſſe: Then alſo that we by the holie Ghoſt are graffed intod1. Cor. 6.17. & 10.16. & 12.13. Chriſt, who now according to his humane nature is onelyonly in heauen at the right hand of hiseHeb. 1.3. & 8.1. &c. Father, and there will befIoan. 4.21.22.23. & 20.17. Luc. 24.52. Act. 7.55.56. Col. 3.1. Phil. 3.10. 1. Theſ. 1.9.10. worſhipped of vsus. But in the Maſſe it is denied, that the quicke and the dead hauehave remiſſion of ſins for the onelyonly paſſion of Chriſt; except alſo Chriſt bee daily offered for them by their Sacrificers. Further alſo it is taught, that Chriſt is bodilie vnderunder the formes of breade and wine, and therefore is to beeaIn canone Miſſae: item de conſecrat. diſtin 2. worſhipped in them. And ſo the verie foundation of the Maſſe is nothing elſe than an vtter denyall of that onelie Sacrifice and paſſion of Chriſt Ieſus, and an accurſed Idolatrie.
81 Who are to come vntounto the Table of the Lord?
They onelyonly who are trulie ſorrowfull, that they hauehave offended GOD by their ſinnes; and yet truſt that thoſe ſinnes are pardoned them for Chriſtes ſake: and what other infirmities they hauehave, that thoſe are couered by his paſſion and death; who alſo deſire more, and more to go forward in faith and integritie of life. But hypocrites and they who doe not truely repent, do eate andb1. Cor. 10.21. & 11.28. &c. drinke damnation to themſelues.
82 Are they alſo to be admitted to this ſupper, who in confeſſion and life declare them-ſelues to bee Infidels and vngodlie?
No. For by that meanes the couenaunt of GOD is profaned, and the wrath of GOD isc1. Cor. 11.20.34. Iſ. 1.11. &c. & 66.3. Ier. 7.21. &c. Pſ. 50.16. &c. ſtirred vp againſt the whole aſſemblie. Wherefore the Church by the commandment of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, vſing the keies of the kingdome of heauen, ought to driue them from this Supper, till they ſhall repent, and chaunge their manners.
83 What are the keies of the Kingdome of heauen?
Preaching of the Goſpell, and Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline: by which heauen is opened to the beleeuers, and isdMath. 16.19. & 18.18. ſhutte againſt the vnbeleeuers.
84 How is the kingdome of heauen opened and ſhut by the preaching of the Gospel?
When by the commaundement of Chriſt it is publickely declared to all and euerie one of the faithfull, that all their ſinnes are pardoned them of God for the merite of Chriſt, ſo often as they imbrace by a liuely faith the promiſe of the Goſpel: but contrarily is denounced to all Infidels & hypocrites, that ſo long the wrath of God and euerlaſting damnation doth lie on them, as theyeIoan. 20.21.22.23. Mat. 16.19. perſiſt in their wickedneſſe: according to which teſtimonie of the Goſpel, God wil iudge them as wel in this life, as in the life to come.
85 How is the kingdome of heauen opened and ſhut, by Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline?
When according to the commaundement of Chriſt, they, who in name are Chriſtians, but in their doctrine and life ſhewe themſeluesfRom. 12.7.8.9. 1. Cor. 12.28. aliens from Chriſt, after they hauing beene ſometime admoniſhed wil not depart from their errours or wickedneſſe, are made knowen vntounto the Church or to them that are appointed for that matter, & purpoſe, of the Church; and if neither then they obey their admonition, are of the ſame men by interdiction from the Sacramentes ſhut out from the Congregation of the Church, & by God him ſelfe, out of the kingdome of heauen: And again, if they profeſſe and indeede declare amendment of life, aregMat. 18.15.16.17. 1. Cor. 5.3.4.5.2. Theſ. 3.14.15. 2. Ioh. 10.11. 2. Cor. 2.6.7.10.11. …. Tim. 5.17. receiued as members of Chriſt and his Church.
AFter it hath beene ſhewed in the firſt part, that men are become obnoxious vntounto euerlaſting pains and puniſhmentes, by reaſon of obedience not yeelded vntounto the lawe; a queſtion by and by ariſeth, Whether there is, or bee graunted anie eſcape or deliuerie from theſe puniſhmentes. To this queſtion the lawe maketh aunſwere, that a deliuerie is graunted, ſo that perfect ſatisfaction be made vntounto the law and the iuſtice of God, by ſufficient puniſhment, paied for the ſinnes committed. For the lawe bindeth either to obedience, or that beeing not performed, to puniſhment. The performance of both which, both of obedience, & puniſhment, is perfect righteouſnes and iuſtice: and on both followeth the approbation & allowing of him; in whom that righteouſneſſe is. Now, the meanes and manners of ſatisfaction are two: one, by our ſelues; which the lawe teacheth, and the iuſtice of God requireth: for wee hauehave ſinned. But this ſatisfaction deliuereth not from eternall malediction; becauſe it is neuer ſufficient, and finiſhed, but indureth to all eternity. The other meanes of ſatisfiyng is by an other, that is, by Chriſt. This meanes doth the Goſpell ſhewe, and the merciemercy of God freely offer: neither yet is it repugnaunt to his law and iuſtice; becauſe in no place the lawe miſliketh or reiecteth it. This ſatisfaction or puniſhment is temporall, and yet ſufficient, that is, equiualent to euerlaſting puniſhment, and therefore a price worthie inough for our deliueraunce. Wherefore ſince Chriſt hath paied in our behalf vntounto the law a ſufficient puniſhment for our ſinnes, the iuſtice of God, and the ſentence of the lawe altogether willeth and requireth, that we bee admitted vntounto a reconcilement with him, that is, be approued of God, and receiued into fauour. Furthermore, by the queſtions of the Catechiſme a little before propounded, two things are taught concerning mans deliuerie. The firſt is, that it is poſſible; and after what ſort. The ſecond is, by whom, and by what maner of Mediatour it may be atchieued. The places here to be diſcourſed of are three.
1 Of Mans deliuerie.
2 Of our Mediatour.
3 Of the Couenant.