The Truth and Certainty of the Protestant Faith, Section 14
SECT. XIV.
Qu. HAth not that Article of the Romiſh Doctrine, Tranſubſtantiation, clear warrant in the Scripture, that Chriſts bodily preſence in the Sacrament, is ſuch, as the whole ſubſtance of the Bread and Wine there, in the act of Conſecration, is turned into the ſubſtance of his Body and Blood? Anſ. It is manifeſt, 1. That it could be no more a Sacrament, if the ſign ſhould be turned into the thing ſignified. 2. It is expreſly to deny the real Body of Chriſt, and that he did viſibly and locally leave this World; Whom the Heavens must contain, until the time of the reſtitution of all things, Acts 3: 11. 3. It is moſt directly contrarie to the Scripture, where it is ſo evident, that the Bread and Wine remain ſtill the ſame, after the Conſecration, 1 Cor. 11: verſ. 26. So oft you eat of … this Bread: And let a Man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of this Bread, 1 Cor. 10: 16. The Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Christ? Yea, Acts 2: 46. Where the partaking of the Sacrament is called the Breaking of Bread, in all which it is moſt expreſly ſhewed to be ſtill Bread. 4. It is clear, that Jeſus Chriſt as Man, cannot be in divers places at once; nor his Body at the ſame time in Heaven, and upon Earth in the Hoſt, being made like unto us in all things, ſin only excepted, Heb. 2: 17. 5. This is to ſubject the bleſſed Body of Chriſt, now in a glorified ſtate, to the greateſt ignominies, ſuch as to go into the belly, to be eaten by his enemies; to be deſtroyed by rats and other beaſts, the verie conceiving of which ſhould cauſe horrour. Qu. Are not theſe the very words of Inſtitution, when Jeſus Chriſt took the Bread, This is my Body? Anſ. They are, but nothing more uſual in Scripture, than ſuch figurative expreſſions as this is, to ſhew the ſacramental Union betwixt the Bread and Chriſts Body, as 1 Cor. 10: 1. The Rock was Chriſt. Joh. 15: 1. I am the true vine; which I am ſure none can take in the literal ſenſe: But I confeſſe, ſuch need not fear to loſe their cauſe, who from the Church's Authority can make void Scripture, Senſe, and Reaſon at once. Qu. Wherein doth this contradict Senſe, or Reaſon. Anſ. It expreſly ſhews, 1. That we muſt not credit our own eyes, and that all who were witneſſes of the Miracles of Chriſt, could have no certainty thereof by their ſight; though theſe were given to confirm the Truth unto mens ſenſes. 2. That the accidents of Bread and Wine, ſuch as colour, taſte, &c. can remain without their Subject. 3. That the ſame numerical Body ſhould be in ſo many places at once, which is in effect, to deny the Body of Chriſt to be humane and finite. Qu. Yet is it not agreeable to take away the Cup from the People, in the Eucharist? Anſ. If the written Word have any weight, it is then ſure, how contrarie this is, 1. To the Inſtitution, and Command of Jeſus Chriſt, Mat. 26: 27. Which in theſe words is expreſſe, Drink ye all of it. 2. To the Command, and Rule given us by the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 11: 23. Let a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of this Bread, and drink of this Cup, which hath there a reſpect to all, who have cauſe for ſelf examination. 3. Doth ſo far fruſtrate that end of the appointment of the Lords Supper, for commemorating his death and ſufferings, So oft as you eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, ye ſhew forth the Lords death, till he come again: ſince it is clear, they cannot aright celebrate the memory thereof, who partake not of that part of the Sacrament, whereby we commemorate the effuſion of Chriſt's blood. 4. Though in the firſt adminiſtration, by Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, the receivers then were Apoſtles; …et is it manifeſt, he did then enter the whole Chriſtian Church in poſſeſſion of ſuch a priviledge, in that very man…er he gave it, and not the leaſt ſhadow for this reſtriction to be found.