The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · Section · Question 79
Queſt. 79. Why then doth Chriſt call bread his body, and the cup his bloud, or the New Teſtament in his bloud: and Paul alſo calleth bread and wine the communion of the body and bloud of Chriſt?
Anſ. Chriſt not without great conſideration ſpeaketh ſo: to wit, not only for to teach us, that as the bread and wine ſuſtaine the life of the body, ſo alſo his crucified body, and bloud ſhed, are indeed the meat and drink of our ſoule, whereby it is nouriſhed to eternall lifeaJohn 6.55.: But much more, that by this viſible ſigne and pledge he may aſſure us, that we are as verily partakers of his body and bloud, through the working of the holy Ghoſt, as we doe receive by the mouth of our body theſe holy ſignes in remembrance of himb1 Cor. 10.16.: And further alſo, that that his ſuffering and obedience is ſo certainly ours, as though we our ſelves had ſuffered puniſhments for our ſins, and had ſatisfied God.
The Explication.
WHereas neither Tranſubſtantiation nor Conſubſtantiation are ſignified by Chriſts words; the queſtion is, Why the bread is called Chriſts body, and the cup Chriſts bloud: that is, why the things ſignified are attributed to the ſignes, and the ſignes called by their name. There are two cauſes alledged hereof: 1. For the naturall analogy or likeneſſe, Two cauſes why the things ſignified are attributed unto the ſignes.which Chriſts body and the bread have between themſelves. 2. For the certainty or confirmation of the joynt-exhibition of the ſigne, and the thing ſignified in the true uſe. The ſimilitude and proportion of the bread, and Chriſts body, eſpecially conſiſteth in theſe points: 1. As the Bread and Wine nouriſh our body unto this life; ſo the Body and Bloud of Chriſt nouriſh us unto everlaſting life. 2. As the Bread and Wine are received by the mouth;The Analogy or proportion between the bread and Chriſts body in the uſe of the Supper. ſo Chriſts body and bloud are received by faith, which is the mouth of the ſoule. 3. As the bread is not ſwallowed whole, but eaten, being broken; ſo Chriſts body is received being ſacrificed and broken on the Croſſe. 4. As the bread and wine profiteth not him that eateth without appetite, but we muſt bring hunger and thirſt unto the Table; ſo Chriſts body and bloud profit none but them, who hunger and thirſt after righteouſneſſe. 5. As of many corns is made one loaf, and of many grapes one wine: ſo we, by participation or communion of theſe ſignes, though many, yet are made one body, and grow up into one body with Chriſt, and between our ſelves. The certainty alſo or aſſurance of faith is a cauſe, why we affirme that of the ſignes, which is proper to the thing ſignified. For the ſignes teſtifie, that Chriſts ſacrifice is accompliſhed, and that indeed for our behoofe and ſalvation, as verily as we have the ſignes; yea, that we are fed with Chriſts crucified body and bloud, ſhed and poured out, as truly as we receive theſe ſacred ſymboles of his body and bloud.