The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 37 · Section 1
1 WHAT THE SVPPER OF THE LORD IS.
FIrſt we wil ſee, by what names the Supper of the Lorde is called▪ then wee wil in few woordes define what it is. This action, or ceremony, or rite inſtituted by a Chriſt a little before his death is called, A ſupper, Why it is called a Supper.from the firſt inſtitution of it: that is, in reſpect of the originall or firſt beginning of this rite, or in reſpect of the time wherein this ceremony was inſtituted, which circumſtance of time the church hath chaunged. Jt is likewiſe called Synaxis, that is,Why a conuent. a conuent, in reſpect of the aſſembly and conuent of the church, becauſe ſome, either few, or many aſſemble and meete together, in celebrating of the ſupper. For in the firſt celebration the Diſciples were preſent; Take this, and diuide it among you. Wherefore it muſt needs be that there was ſome number there; which alſo appeareth by the Apoſtle repeating the firſt inſtitution. 1. Cor. 11. where in the end he addeth, When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And further that moe ought to come together to celebrate the ſupper, this end of the ſupper doth euidently enough ſhew, in that it was inſtituted to be a token and euen a bond of louelove. For we that are many, are one bread, and one bodie. It is called alſo the Euchariſt, Why, the Euchariſt. Why, a ſacrifice. Why, Miſſa.becauſe it is a rite and ceremony of thankesgiuing. Laſt of all, it is called alſo a ſacrifice, becauſe it is the commemoration of chriſts propitiatory benefit. And at length it was alſo called Miſſa, frō the offering, or from the dimiſſing of the reſt who might not communicate, after the ſermō which went before the celebration was finiſhed.
Now let vsus come to define the Lords Supper.
The definition of the Lordes Supper.THE Lords ſupper is a ceremonie or ſacrament inſtituted and appointed of chriſt vntounto the faithfull, for a memorial of him, whereby chriſt dooth certainly promiſe and ſeale vntounto mee and all the faithfull, firſt that his body was offered and broken on the croſſe for mee, and his bloode ſhed for me, as truely, as I ſee with my eies the bread of the Lord to be broken vntounto me, and his cup diſtributed: and moreouer that hee doth as certainlie with his body crucified and his blood ſhed feed and nouriſh my ſoul vntounto euerlaſting life, as my body is fed with the bread & the cup of the lord receiued from the hand of the miniſter, which are offered to me as certaine ſeales of the body & blood of Chriſt. It may be alſo more briefly defined on this wiſe. The lords ſupper is a diſtributing & receiuing of bread and wine, commaunded of Chriſt vntounto the faithfull, that by theſe ſignes he might teſtifie, that hee hath deliuered and yeelded his body vntounto death, and hath ſhedde his bloode for them: and dooth giuegive them thoſe thinges to eate and drinke, that they might be vntounto them the meate and drink of eternall life, and that thereby alſo he might teſtifie, that he would dwel in them for euer: And againe, that of the otherſide hee might by the ſame ſigne bind them to mutuall dilection and louelove, ſeeing Chriſt ſpareth not to giuegive his body and bloode for vsus. This is confirmed not onelyonly by Chriſt in the Euangeliſtes, but alſo by Paul, who expreſly ſaith, The cup of bleſſing which we bleſſe, is it not the communion of the bloud of Chriſt?
The Signes and thinges ſignified in the Lordes Supper.Moreouer, the ſignes in this ſacrament are, bread and wine: bread broke and eat; wine diſtributed and taken. The things ſignified are, 1. The breaking of the body, and the ſhedding of the bloud of Chriſt. 2. Our vnion and coniunction with chriſt by faith, ſo that wee drawe life euerlaſting from him, and are made partakers, as of Chriſt himſelfe, ſo alſo of all his benefites; as the branches are made partakers of the life of the vine. Wee are aduertiſed of this our communion with chriſt, Firſt, by the proportion which the ſignes hauehave with the thinges, and Secondly by the promiſe which is adioyned. And the proportion dooth chief… propoſe and ſhewe two things vntounto vsus 1. The ſacrifice of Christ. 2. Our communion with chriſt, becauſe the bread is not only broken, but is alſo giuen vsus to eate. Now the breaking of the bread is a part of the ceremony, whereunto a part of the thing ſignified dooth aunſwere This difference doth Paul teſtifie, when he ſaith: This my body which is broken for you Heere rec…iuing and eating is a part of the ceremony, whereunto doo…h aunſwere the thing ſignified, …o wit, the eating of chriſtes body. Now this diuine and ſpirituall thing, namely the breaking and communicating of chriſtes body, is ſigned and confirmed by this ceremony which is the breaking and receiuing of bread, for two cauſes. 1. Becauſe Chriſt commandeth theſe rites vntounto which we ought to giuegive no leſſe credite, than if Chriſt himſelfe did ſpeake with vsus. 2. Becauſe hee annexeth a promiſe, that they who obſerue theſe rites with a true faith muſt be aſſured and certaine that they hauehave communion with Chriſt. Wine is added, that wee ſhould know the perfection and accompliſhment of our ſaluation to be in his ſacrifice, & that there was nothing which could be further deſired. The wine is ſeuered from the breade▪ to ſignifie the violence of his death, becauſe his bloud was ſundered from his body.