by sealing it perswades the truth of the promise and so confirmes faith V. Yet they do performe neither of both themselues by any vertue in them but in that the holy a Ephe. 1.13 14. chap. 4. v. 30. spirit worketh by them and his working is free b Iohn 3.8 so that he worketh where he will when he will and in what measure it pleaseth him VI. The Sacramentes some are of the old Testament some of the new VII The Sacraments of the old Testament were a Gene. 17. Leuit. 12. Circumcision b Leuit. 14. purifications and c Leu. 1.3.4.6 c. sacrifices of these the d Exod. 12. 2. Paral. 35. passeouer was a speciall Sacrament VIII Circūcisiō did illustrate the promise of grace vnder the type of cutting off of the foreskin of the flesh for by the circumcising of the foreskin was signified that the sins of the faithful were done away by forgiuenes of sins or free a Rom. 4.11 iustification Circumcision did also seale the promise of grace by applying the same to euery person so that the couenant of God was as it were sealed in euery mans c Gen. 17.13 flesh IX The purifications did illustrate the promise of grace vnder the type of washing for by them was signified that the sinnes of the faithfull were purged by the bloud a Leu. 14.7.8 of Christ and dayly are washed away by the holy Ghost X. The sacrifices did illustrate the promise of grace as being types of our a Leuit. 1.4 4.20 16.27.30 expiatorie sacrifice for by them was signified that Christ should b Heb. 9.26 28. c. 10.11.12.14 be slaine for an expiatorie sacrifice that is to satisfie for all the sinnes of all the elect XII The pascall lambe be not onely shadowed this as a sacrifice generally but also foreshewed some peculiar thing of Christes sacrifice to wit that his a Iohn 19.36 bones should not be broken and it signified that the soules of the faithfull did banquet and feed b 1. Cor. 5.7 and 8. vpō Christ as it were spiritually in a sacrifice that is they receiued hereby some feeling of Gods grace loue purchased for them by the sacrifice of Christ Againe it represented the holinesse of Christes sacrifice for it was commanded to be an c Exod. 12.5 vnspotted lambe XII But besides this shadowing of Christes sacrifice in respect whereof that ceremonie of eating the lambe was a Sacrament it was also ordained to a Exo. 12.27 prayse God for deliuerance out of the bondage of Egipt XIII And thus much of the Sacraments of the old Testament The Sacramentes of the new are two Baptisme and the Lords Supper XIIII Baptisme that a Col. 2.11.12 succeeded in place of Circumcision doth illustrate the promise of grace vnder the type of b Act. 22.16 washing for as by water the c 1. Pet. 3.21 filthinesse of the body is done away so by the bloud d 1. Iohn 1.7 of Christ shed on the Crosse and by faith sprinckled on our harts our soules are purged from sinne But Baptisme sealeth vnto vs the promise of grace in that euery one is washed in that water which is the Sacramēt of the bloud of Christ shed on the crosse XV. The Supper of the Lord which came a Luk. 22.15 c. in place of the passeouer doth illustrate the promise of grace partly by representing the passion b Luk. 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 of Christ by the breaking of the bread by pouring forth the wine the c Luk. 22.20 shedding of his bloud and partly by declaring the efficacie of Christes death by this ioyfull d 1. Cor. 5.8 bāquet for that the soules of the faithfull sweetely banquet be cōforted in tasting of Gods fauour grace purchased by the death of Christ But it sealeth vnto vs the promise of grace in that the bread which is giuen to euery one of vs to be eaten is the Sacrament of Christes body crucified for vs and in that euery one of vs doth drinke of the cup which is the Sacrament of the bloud of Christ shed vpon the crosse for vs. XVI And the Supper of the Lord hath the nature not onely of a Sacrament but also of a sacrifice to wit of thankes-giuing as also the lambe which had this place before it For as that lambe was appointed to prayse God for their deliuerie from the bōdage of Pharao so the holy Supper was ordained to a 1. Cor. 11.26 prayse the Lord for our redemption from the power of the deuill by the death of Christ XVII But as the Sacramentes in respect of God are signes of grace towards his people so in respect of vs they be a Mat. 23.15 Act. 2.41 chap. 8.36.37.38 markes of our profession whereby we openly professe that we desire to be counted among the people of God and will worship onely the true God who hath manifested him self to his people as by the most sure word and doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles so also by these Sacraments XVIII Of all these Sacraments the Scripture vsually speaketh a Gen. 17.10 and 11. Exod. 12.11 and 27. Act. 22.16 Mat. 26.26 and 28. Mar. 14.22 and 24. Luke 22.19 and 20. 1. Cor. 10.4.16 1. Cor. 11.24 and 25. metonymically that is attributing the names or properties of the things signified to the signes themselues which thing is done partly to teach vs the relation which is betweene those signes and things signified partly to signifie the truth certaintie of the working of those holy Sacramentes that the beleeuers should not doubt but that the things signified set before vs are as truly by the working of the holy spirit cōmunicated vnto them as they certainly feele that these diuine signes and seales which are named Sacraments are by the Minister of the Church giuen them XIX The difference of the old and new Sacramēts is not in the things signified for they in both are a 1. Cor. 10.2.3 4. the same but partly in the manner of signification and partly in the euidence of demonstration for the old signified and figured Christ to come but the new signifie and shew that he is come Again the new are more manifest thē the old because they represent a thing done and clearely preached by the Gospell XX. They erre that any way bind the things signified to the signes XXI As also they that attribute to the signes power to conferre grace which they onely seale and testifie XXII But the Papistes erre most shamefully in that they transforme the Lords Supper into the Masse teaching that by consecration that is by the muttering of the fiue wordes Hoc enim est corpus meum for this is my body ouer the bread the same is transubstantiated into or turned into the substance of the body of Christ as they say and by the offring vp of Christ thus created
assumption is false for b Psal 51.7 Dauid confesseth that he was conceiued in sinne and for that the infants of the faithfull are members c 1. Cor. 7.14 of the Church i◠followeth that they also are purged by the bloud of Christ and therefore we must graunt them the seale thereof which is Baptisme XI Lastly where they say that none in the Apostles time was baptized but he that made profession of his faith before that is true onely of such as were a Act. 2.41 Act. 8.12 Ibid. v. 37.38 of yeares but that the infants of such as professed the faith and were baptized were also baptized in like manner we haue before plainly proued in the 7. Aphorisme CHAP. XXVI Of the Lordes Supper I. APHORISME THe Supper of the Lord is the second Sacrament of the a Mat. 26.28 Mar. 14.24 Luke 22.20 1. Cor. 11.25 new Testament or couenant of grace wherein by the b Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14 22. Luke 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 breaking of bread and powring of the wine into to the cup the passion shedding of the bloud of Christ is figured represented as it were set before our eyes and next by giuing taking eating and drinking of these elementes the c Mat. 26.28 promise of the d Iohn 6.51.53.54.58 remission of sinnes and life euerlasting purchased by the passion of Christ and by his bloud shed in a word by that his precious death the promise of their cōmunion e 1. Cor. 10.16.17 and c. 12. vers 13. as members with their head Christ Iesus is sealed to all the beleeuing worthy receiuers wherby it cōmeth to passe that the faithful sweetly rest in the fauor of God obtained for them by his sons death and so feed with f 1. Cor. 3.7.8 him spiritually and dayly grow vp in a holy communiō with Christ II. And that the holy Supper is a Sacramēt of the new couenant it may appeare by the very words of the institution which the Lord pronounced of the cup saying This cup is the new Testament or couenant in my bloud that is a Sacrament of the new couenant III. We call the Lordes Supper the second Sacrament of the new Testament in respect of Baptisme which is the first For like as in the old Testament there were two principall Sacramēts Circumcisiō the Passeouer so there are two in the new Baptisme and the Lordes Supper which directly answer them succeede in their places And as none was admitted to the Passeouer but the a Exo. 12.48 Circumcised so none must be receiued to the Supper but the Baptized IIII. The commandement of Christ contained in the institution is in these wordes Take ye and eate ye Take ye and drinke ye and do this in remembrance of me V. Againe it is manifest by the wordes of the institution that Christ vsed bread and wine in this Sacrament VI. In the breaking of bread in the Lordes Supper we follow both the Lordes a Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.22 Luke 22.19 1. Cor. 11.24 cōmaundement and his b Ibid. example for the Lord did not onely breake the bread and so by breaking it did consecrate the same a Sacrament of his body but also commāded this bread so blessed so broken to be receiued and eaten as the liuely symbole and Sacrament of his precious body broken that is crucified for vs. And the c 1. Cor. 11.23 Apostle saith that he receiued of the Lord which he deliuered to the Corinthians concerning the administration of this Sacrament and this d 1. Cor. 10.16 breaking of bread he both commaunded commended vnto them To be short then the breaking of bread is an essentiall ceremonie in the Lordes Supper for that this is the principall end thereof to represent seale and set before vs the passion and breaking of e 1. Cor. 11.24 the body of Christ The same reason is of the powring forth of the wine if we cōpare it with the shedding of the bloud of Christ VII The passion of Christ is set before vs in this Sacrament in a liuely manner as by a Gal. 3.1 preaching of the Gospell VIII We receiue Iesus Christ and his holy spirite most comfortably by the word for it is Gods holy ordinance and instrument to cōuay his graces into our minds harts and consciences and that mighty power to confer and giue vs the spirite of grace the spirite of faith the spirite of adoption the spirit of sanctificatiō of wisedome c. IX But there is difference betweene the participation of Christ by the one and by the other for the Lord first by his word confers grace but grace and faith once giuen are strengthned and increase dayly by the Sacraments X. Againe the Lord by the word workes onely by one sense in vs namely the sense of hearing whereby comes knowledge so faith Rom. 10.14.15 And this sense in deede is now since the corruption of our nature the sense of learning and vnderstanding and so the principall to breed beget faith in vs but before the fall of Adam the sight I take it was the principall sense to receiue and learne wisedome and vnderstanding in the vewe and consideratiō of the workes of God See Bradfords Sermō of the Supper The Lord therfore in the Sacrament hath respect to the sight and all other senses for in and by the Sacrament the soule doth not onely heare Christ as in the word but also see Christ touch Christ smell tast and so feed vpō Christ and all his benefites XI The principall parts of this Sacrament are to seale and ratifie that promise of Christ wherin he assureth vs that his flesh is a Iohn 6.55 meate indeed and his bloud is drinke indeede to feed vs vnto life euerlasting and in that he saith he is the b Ibid. v. 51. bread of life whereof who so eateth shall liue for euer it is ordained I say to seale that promise and to this effect to send vs vnto the crosse of Christ where that promise was performed and fulfilled in euery respect For the flesh of Christ was made vnto vs the bread of life or that meate which quickeneth vs in that it was c Ibid. crucified for vs. XII This meate we can not eate but by a Iohn 6.35 faith and this drinke we can not b Ibidem drinke but by faith XIII Againe to eate the flesh of Christ by faith and to drinke his bloud by faith is to receiue by faith the promise of God which testifieth that the flesh of Christ was crucified for vs that his bloud was shed for vs that is for the remission of our sinnes XIIII The fruite which followeth this spirituall meate and drinke is a spirituall a Iohn 6.57 1. Cor. 5.8 ioy in God and the increase of our b 1. Cor. 10.17 communion with Christ for this dependeth vpon the confirmation of our faith XV. Againe
it is very manifest that the body of Christ is not eatē with the 1 Transubstantiation mouth and that his body is not contained 2 Consubstantiation in the bread of the holy Supper for that a Act. 3.21 heauē must containe him vnto the day of iudgement Neither may we say that the body of Christ is euery where that it may be in heauen at one and the selfe same time here on earth also in the bread of the Lordes Supper for it euer retaines that propertie of a mans body which is to be finite for Christ was made like vnto vs in all b Heb. 2.17 things c Heb. 4.15 sinne onely excepted XVI Againe if the body of Christ and the bloud of Christ were cōtained vnder the formes of bread and wine the one part must be necessarily seuered from the other and so Christ must dye againe But Christ dyeth a Rom. 6.9 no more XVII Now that the bread of the Lords Supper is not transubstantiated into the body of Christ but that the substaunce of the bread remaineth after the wordes of consecration it may appeare for that Christ would teach by this bread as by a verie apt similitude that his flesh is a Iohn 6.55 spirituall meate therefore it must necessarily be very bread that we may assuredly conclude that our soules are as truly fed with Christ crucified for vs as our bodies are truly fed with that bread which there is broken for vs and giuen vs. Againe Christ commanded all the faithfull to eate of one b 1. Cor. 10.17 bread to teach that they all c Ibidem are as one bread or as one body therefore it must be very bread that the similitude may continue that like as of many grains or masse one substance is made so one bread so the faithfull being many hauing one spirit of faith to knit them vnto Christ and one spirite of loue to knit them one with another are made one Church as one body in and through their head Iesus Christ XVIII And like as neither the water of Baptisme is chaunged nor that water which streamed from the a Num. 20.10.11 rocke being smitten with Moses rod was chaunged into the bloud of Christ and yet both Sacraments of the same So in like maner the wine in the Lords Supper is not changed into the bloud of Christ wherof notwithstanding it is a Sacrament as Christ ordained and appointed XIX And yet we do not goe from the verie words of Christ but desire to giue them their naturall sense and meaning XX. The verie naturall sense of the words of Christ doth depend vpon a Metonymie or trope whereby the name of the thing signified that is the bodie is attributed to the signe which is bread and so for the cup and bloud of Christ in like maner XXI This Metonymicall or Sacramentall phrase is vsed euerie where in Scripture where the holy Spirit speaketh of Sacraments For we may not otherwise vnderstand these places as where it is sayd that circumcision is the a Gen. 17.10 couenant of God the paschall lambe is b Exod. 12.11 and 27. the Lords Passeouer in Aegypt and the c Leuit. 6.30 c. sacrifices of the Law are sayd to expiate the sinnes of the people and that the rocke which gaue thē water to drinke in the wildernesse was d 1. Cor. 10.4 Christ XXII The holy Spirit vsually retaineth this maner of speaking in all Sacraments for two causes principally first to helpe vs against our ignorance dulnesse and the blindnesse of our hearts for if the Lord spake not on this maner we would but only fasten our eyes and our hearts vpon the bare signes and ceremonies and content our selues as haue hypocrites in all ages with bare and emptie shadowes without faith Psal 50. feare repentance obedience or any reuerence of the holy couenant Therfore I say the Lord first speakes on this wise to lift vp our hearts and soules by faith to behold consider and to feede vpon the things signified The second cause of the vse of this phrase in the Sacraments is for that the verie truth is so there is a reall presence of the signe and the thing signified to the beleeuer for as he doth bodily and really participate of the signe Sacramenta sunt signa exhibentia non significantia tantū so doth he spiritually as really receiue and feed vpon the thing signified XXIII And thus speaketh Augustine also lest any thinke of this as of some new inuētiō If Sacraments had not a certaine similitude of those things of which they be Sacramēts a Epist 23. ad Bonifac. surely they should be no Sacraments and by reason of this likenesse they haue often the names of the things which are signified by them Therfore as the Sacrament of the body of Christ is after a certaine manner the body of Christ the Sacrament of the bloud of Christ the bloud of Christ so the Sacrament of faith is faith Whereas they obiect that it is not like that when Christ would minister vnto his Apostles a speciall comfort in aduersitie that then he should speake darkely and doubtfully the matter it self sheweth that this metonymicall phrase seemed not hard or obscure vnto the Apostles for if they had not thought that the Lord called the bread his body because it is a liuely true signe Sacrament thereof out of all question they had bene much troubled disquieted with so prodigious a matter which necessarily followeth from the literall sense of the word this may yet better appeare for the same verie time they could not well conceiue and vnderstand more easie and common a Ioh. 14.5.8 c. 16. v. 17. argumentes Therefore I say for that they were not troubled with these wordes it is manifest that they vnderstood them metonymically after the maner of the Scripture the rather for that a little before they had eaten of the lambe which in the same sense was called the passeouer for that it was a symbole of that memorable passeouer wherein the Angell b Exo. 12.27 of the Lord smiting all the first borne of the Aegyptians did passe ouer the houses of the people of Israell by which occasiō they were brought out of Aegypt and so freed from that extreme bondage XXV They spend here wind in vaine to obiect the omnipotencie of God to shewe that the bodie of Christ may be both in heauen and in the Sacramentall bread at one and the same time For the question is not here what God can do but what he will do and what his will and good pleasure is And his will is that Christ be like his brethren in a Heb. 2.17 all things sinne onely b Heb. 4.15 excepted Therefore his will is that he haue a true bodie that is a finite bodie and limited in place Againe albeit God be omnipotent yet can he not
quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the wordes that I speake vnto you are spirite and life And whereas the most of the best interpreters of these times expounde these wordes of Christes Deitie as if the same were vnderstood by the word spirite so that Christes meaning as they say is that the power of quickning doth proceede from the Deitie of Christ so that his flesh hath power to quicken vs as it is the flesh of the sonne of God crucified for vs. This exposition no doubt is sound and good yet I thinke this be the most simple and naturall sense if by the word spirit we vnderstaÌ„d the holy Ghost that the meaning should be thus my flesh which I said must be eaten to attaine eternall life profiteth nothing to effect this if ye eate the same corporally as you Capernaites vnderstand me but it is the spirit which quickneth that is the holy Ghost quickneth the harts of the faithfull and nourisheth them vnto life euerlasting by working in them effectually to beleeue in me and so to eate my flesh and to drinke my bloud spiritually that is by faith whereby they are well assured that my flesh was crucified for them and my bloud shed for them for the remission of their sinnes The wordes therefore saith he which I speake vnto you of the necessitie of eating my flesh to attaine eternall life these wordes I say are spirite and life that is must be vnderstood of the effectuall working of the holy Ghost in the harts of the elect to worke eternall life in them euen by faith Moreouer for the better vnderstanding of this point in what sense the flesh of Christ is and may truly be said to be our spirituall foode we must expresse also in what manner it is made meate for vs. And this Christ taught vs in very plaine wordes in that Sermon where he saith I am that f v. 51. liuing bread that is the quickning bread or that bread that giueth life which came downe from heauen If any man shall eate of this bread he shall liue for euer and the bread that I will giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world In these last wordes which I will giue for the life of the world Christ sheweth in what maner his flesh should be foode for vs and that is in that he will giue it vnto the death for our life that is to merite for vs life euerlasting offring it as Priest himselfe a holy sacrifice to God his father And that this is the naturall sense of this relatiue * Quam ego dabo which in this place as if the Lord had said quatenus cam dabo in that or for that I shall giue it it is verie manifest by the matter it selfe which is handled in that place For if we shall not so vnderstand those wordes as tending to declare the former maner of that thing which is here intreated then that word must note some diuision of a generall into specials as if Christ had two kindes of flesh of which the one he would giue for the life of the world the other he would not giue But this interpretation is manifestly false and contrary to the articles of our faith wheron we ground the truth of Christes incarnation Therefore that exposition of the relatiue which in this place is verie true and natural and vsed to declare the forme and manner of that thing which is there proposed or disputed vpon And the very same interpretation is there of the words of the Lord in the institution of his holy Supper where of that bread broken he speaketh on this wise This is my bodie which is giuen or broken for you that is in * Quatenus asmuch as or for that it is broken or giuen for you For that holie bread or as Paule calleth it that bread of the Lord is not simplie the Sacrament of the Lordes bodie that is doth not simplie signifie and testifie that the Lord hath a true bodie but signifieth and testifieth that the Lords body is broken or giuen for vs that is was offred on the Crosse with the feeling of Gods wrath to make satisfaction for our sinnes And in like manner must we speake and thinke of the other wordes which the Lord pronounced of the holy cup or wine saying This is that my bloud of the new Testament or couenant which is shed for you and for manie for the remission of sinnes that is in asmuch as or for that it is shed c. By the premisses it is now manifest that the flesh of Christ hath in it the nature of meate not simplie but in a certaine respect that is in asmuch as it was crucified for vs. Like as the body is said to be visible in respect of the colours thereof Now concerning the second question in what maner we eate the flesh of Christ and drinke his bloud I answer Such as the meate and drinke is such must be the maner of the eating and drinking thereof but the flesh of Christ is spirituall meate and his bloud is spirituall drinke as is aforeshewed Therefore the flesh of Christ is eaten spiritually or in a spirituall manner and his bloud is drunke also in the same manner Now to eate the flesh of Christ and to drinke his bloud spiritually is to eate with the mouth of the spirite that is of the soule to wit by faith Again to eate the flesh of Christ by faith and to drinke his bloud is nothing else but to beleeue in Christ or to beleeue that the flesh of Christ is crucified for thee and that his bloud is shed for thee for the remission of thy sinnes This Christ himselfe sheweth in the same Sermon where he propoundeth two propositions or sentences signifying one thing which are these he that beleeueth g v. 47. in me hath eternall life and h v. 54. he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life The matter also and argument there handled requires this interpretation of the words of Christ for if he meant by that phrase of eating his flesh one thing and by that of faith another thing then this consequent would follow we must haue not one but two wayes to life euerlasting one by eating the flesh of Christ the other by faith But the way to eternall life is but one which is Christ alone receiued by faith or faith in Christ our Sauiour both come to one effect And yet the better to vnderstand this point consider a little what the nature of faith is And this is knowen by his next and proper obiect which is the Gospell or that testimonie which God hath giuen vs of his loue and grace for and through Iesus Christ for faith resteth vpon the Gospell as the blessed and infallible testimonie of God And the Gospell testifieth of Christ that is of his person and office and of all his benefites towardes vs that is to say that Christ is the only begotten sonne of God which for our sake and for our saluation came downe from heauen and was made man of the virgine Marie that he liued an holy life according to the law of God and hath brought vnto vs from the bosome of his father the counsell of God concerning our saluation who being righteous suffered for vs that are vnrighteous vnder Pontius Pylate was crucified dead c. And like as the Gospell testifieth these things vnto vs so the Sacramentes also testifie the same for they are seales of the Gospell and as it were a Gospell seene and a Gospell felt He therefore that beleeueth these holy testimonies of God in so doing he spiritually feedeth vpon the bodie of Christ spiritually drinketh the bloud of Christ And thus doth Augustine De doctrina Christ Lib. 2. cap. 16. expounde this place of Christ Vnlesse saith he ye eate the flesh of the sonne of man and drinke his bloud ye haue no life in you He seemeth to commande a horrible fact and a thing most detestable It is a figure commanding vs to communicate with or to become partakers of the Lordes passion and to lay vp sweetely and comfortably in memorie that his flesh was crucified and wounded for vs thus saith Augustine After the same maner doth Mr Iohn Caluin that famous diuine of our age lay open those wordes of Christ in his booke of Institutions the 4. booke Chap. 17. sect 5. FINIS R D DEVS â—â—â—â—T ASTRIS
effect contraries as that any thing at one time both be and be not for that he can not c Tit. 1.2 Heb. 6.18 lye nor denie d 2. Tim. 2 13 himselfe for this is against his nature And these propositions or sentences are meere contradictorie Christes bodie is a true bodie Christes body is not a true bodie but an infinite XXVI Neither yet shall this helpe the aduersaries to say that vnlesse it be graunted Christes bodie is euery where it will necessarily follow that it is seuered from the diuine nature which is euery where and whereunto it is personally vnited for although Christs body be not euery where but contained in one certaine place yet neuerthelesse it is euer personally vnited to the Deitie of the word for the personall vnion doth not make equall the humane nature with the diuine or change the properties of the diuine nature into the humane Christ is that word Iohn 1.1 that the humane nature may haue the same proprieties with the diuine but is such an vniō as that therby the humane nature subsisteth in the person of the word so that it is as a part thereof neither hath it by it selfe or without the word any subsisting Therefore well spake the fathers in the Councell of Chalcedon The difference of natures in Christ is not taken away because of the vnion of them but rather by this doctrine of the vnion of natures we learne that the proprieties of both natures are kept as concurring and meeting together into one person or * Hypostasis substance XXVII Seeing therefore the bodie of Christ is finite and taken vp from earth to a Act. 19.10.11 heauen and must be contained there vntill the b Act. 3 21. 1. Cor. 11.26 day of iudgement it followeth that it is not in all places nor in the Sacramentall bread included XXVII And albeit we say that Christes body is in heauen and no where else according to the true proprietie of a body yet we tye it not to any certaine place in heauen but we iudge him to be there free as it beseemeth and is conuenient for that celestiall glory which to search into we deeme also to be a vaine and bold curiositie XXIX Whereby it is very manifest that they slaunder vs which say that we tye the body of Christ to a certaine place in heauen XXX And whereas yet they say that albeit Christs body be in heauen visible yet this letteth not but that it may be in the Sacramentall bread in an inuisible manner first they can not proue this by the Scriptures next they speake flat contradictories against themselues when as they say that Christ is in the bread really substantially corporally if that be so he must be there also in a visible manner For whatsoeuer humane bodie is any where substātially the same is there also visibly For this visibilitie is a propertie which cā not be seuered from the substaunce of mans bodie For this cause Christ when he appeared after his resurrection to his Apostles desired to a Luk. 24.36.37.38.39 proue that his very body was there present substantially he reasoneth if so I may speake frō the * That which may be seen visibilitie and * That which may be touched felt palpabilitie thereof and so appealeth to the very senses of his Disciples that they might testifie the truth of his resurrection XXXI And whereas yet they make an other exception that it is vnmeet to submit the nature of a glorious body to the lawes of common nature that makes nothing to proue the inuisible presence of Christes bodie in the Sacramentall bread For the glorie a Luk. 23 36 c. Act 7.55.56 1.9.10.11 hath not abolished the truth of the bodie wherein the visibilitie thereof is contained Next this also is to be considered that in that first Supper of Christ with his Disciples that his body was not yet glorified and there is none other celebration of the Lordes Supper now then was at that time XXXII And albeit we deny the body of Christ to be included in the Sacramentall bread yet we say not that Christ is altogether in euery respect absent from his holy Sacrament or that the bread wine be but bare and emptie signes For Christ is truly present by the grace of his holy spirite where two or three a Mat. 18.20 are gathered togethe in his name and lifteth vp also euen to heauen vnto himselfe the hearts of the faithfull by the promise of the Gospell that they may contemplate there namely in the heauenly b Heb. 9.12.24 sanctuarie that his sacrifice which he offred for them vpon his Crosse and by faith feed thereupon vnto life euerlasting XXXIII Againe if the body of Christ be not in the Sacramentall bread it followeth also that we must not adore his body there but we must worship and adore him in heauē where a Col. 3.1 he sitteth at the right hand of God the father whither also in elder ages in the celebration of the Lordes Supper the people were inuited when they were put in minde of the place with sursum corda lift vp your harts vnto the Lord. XXXIIII Neither must the Lordes Supper be a diuine action performed by the Minister of the Church alone but the Pastor must declare and lay open with a good voyce and in a plaine manner what the misterie thereof is vnto the people XXXV In like manner we must reiect priuate communions as when this Sacrament is administred to particular persons readie to dye without any congregation or companie of the faithfull to be partakers with him of that holie communion for the Apostle speaking of the celebration of the Supper saith a 1. Cor 11.20 when ye meet together againe for that this Sacrament is a speciall symbole of the communion of Saintes and this the Apostle meaneth where he saith for b 1. Cor. 10.17 we that are many are one bread and one body because we all are partakers of one bread XXXVI The worthinesse of the communicants consisteth in this that they a 1. Cor. 11.28 acknowledge and bewayle their owne vnworthinesse and by faith call vpon God that he will of his grace and mercy in Iesus Christ make them worthy XXXVII Yet to speake more distinctly plainly to the vnderstanding of the ignorant to the end they may come prepared and aduisedly to the holy Communion and for that the abuse of this holy Sacrament is one cause of all these iudgements which are past and haue consumed many and yet are still threatned against vs therefore the vnworthy receiuers which dishonour God hurt and hinder their owne saluation and prouoke Gods wrath against his Church and people they are these which follow XXXVIII 1 In the first place I set all Atheists mē without God without a Ephe. 2.12 Psal 14.1 Christ or any Religion meere Epicures in the world therefore ought they to
by the Priest all their sins for whom the Masse is celebrated are purged whether they be as yet aliue or euē long since dead and in Purgatorie XXIII Lastly they sinne also grieuously whiles they adore that fained Christ as lying hid vnder the forme of bread CHAP. XXIIII Of Baptisme I. APHORISME BAptisme is the first Sacrament of the new Testament or couenant of grace wherein according to Christs a Mat. 28.19 institution the Christian is dipped in water or sprinkled with water by the Minister of the Church to represent the shedding of the bloud of Christ vpon the Crosse and to testifie to him that the remission of sinsis purchased for him by the bloud of Christ and to seale his regeneration by the holy Ghost which grace is purchased also fot the elect by the bloud of Iesus Christ and lastly to seale his communion and felowship with Christ in the kingdome of heauen and so in like manner the Baptised makes publique profession that his harts desire is to be one of the people and Church of God II. Whereas we say that Baptisme is a Sacrament we haue already shewed in the former Chapter what this word signifieth III. We ad that Baptisme is a Sacrament of the new Testament or couenant of grace because it was instituted by Christ after his incarnation first administred amongst the Iewes by Iohn the Baptist Christ himselfe next among all nations by the Apostles and their successours IIII. We call Baptisme the first Sacrament of the new Testament in respect of the second which is the Lords Supper for Baptisme is the Sacrament of our first a Act. 2.4.1 Iohn 41. entrance and admission into the visible Church of Christ that we may be of the number of Gods childrē so accounted may enioy their b Ibid. v. 42. priuiledges And therfore men vnbaptised may not be admitted to the Lordes Supper like as in times past vnder the old Testament the Sacracrament of their first c Mat. 23.15 entrance into the Church was Circumcision and none d Exod. 13.48 vncircumcised was to eate the passeouer V. We say that the person to be Baptised ought to be a a Mar. 16.16 Act. 8.36.37.38 Act. 2.41 Act. 16.14.15.31.32.33 Christian by which name we vnderstand not onely men of yeares lately conuerted to the Christiā faith but also young b Act. 16.33 Exod. 12.48 infants the children of Christian parents whereby may appeare that the speach of the common people is erroneous when as desiring Baptisme of the Pastour of the Church for their infants they say God hath giuen me a child I pray you make it a Christian soule For Baptisme doth not make a Christian but signifieth and marketh vs for Christians VI. We adde further that Baptisme is to be administred by the Minister of the Church bicause Baptisme is a part of the Ecclesiasticall a Mat. 28.19 Ministerie which none may b Heb. 5.4 meddle with but they which are thereunto lawfully called for to whom Christ gaue cōmission to Baptise to them also he gaue charge to preach his holy word and what God hath ioyned together c Mat. 19.6 no man may put asunder Those women therfore sinne which in their fained cause of necessitie do administer this holy Sacrament yea they sin dangerously for baptizing without any commission frō God nay d 1. Cor. 14.34 1. Tim. 2.22 contrary to his word and for ascribing to any externall thing our euerlasting saluation which is to be sought only in the death of Christ and in the promise of grace The same is to be thought also if any man not called to the Ministery of the Gospell do Baptise VII Water onely is to be vsed in Baptisme and no other liquor for that Gods commandement is of water only and the practise of the faithfull seruauntes of God which first ministred the same as Iohn Baptist Christ and his Apostles and their successours can teach vs. VIII And whether the Baptized be dipped in water and that once or thrise or haue the water sprinkled or powred vpon him it is a matter indifferent and ought to be free in the Church according to the diuersitie of countreys For although it be manifest that dipping in the water was vsed in the a Iohn 3.23 Mat. 3.16 Act. 8.38.39 Rom. 6.4.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 primitiue Church yet the originall Baptizing doth signifie not onely to be dipped in the water but also to be wet with water any way IX Moreouer Baptisme is giuen vs of God to this end first for the confirmation of our owne faith to our selues next for the manifestatiō of our profession among mē X. Baptisme helpes our faith three wayes testifying vnto vs of three things which we receiue by faith for first it is an instruction and symbole thereunto of the a Act. 2.37 c. 22.16 remission of sinnes next of our b Rom. 6.4 Tit. 3.5 renouation by the holy Ghost lastly of our vnion and c Gal. 3.28 communion with Christ XI First concerning forgiuenesse of sins Baptisme both teacheth and sealeth the same in a speciall manner vnder the figure and type of washing a Act. 22.16 Soph. 5.26 Tit. 3.5.6 purging vs for as by water the filthines of the body is purged and washed away So by the bloud b Iohn 1.7 of Christ all the pollutions of the faithfull are washed and purged XII And this confirmation which we haue by Baptisme concernes the whole life all and euery one of the sinnes of our life for the bloud of Christ whereof Baptisme is the seale purgeth a 1. Iohn 1.7 vs from all sinne Therfore so oftē as we fall we should call our Baptisme to minde and thereby arme our selues that we may euer rest assured of the free pardon of our sinnes for that the bloud of Christ is that fotūaine which is b Zach. 13.1 opened to the house of Dauid and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem that is to all the faithfull to wash them from sin and from vncleanesse XIII Let no mā by this doctrine gather any libertie to sinne for this doctrine is not taught but for the consolation of them which be truly humbled and for afflicted soules and consciences Againe Baptisme doth no lesse warne vs of our a Rom. 6.4 mortification and dying vnto sinne then of the remission of our sinnes by Christ XIIII Therefore the second end of our Baptisme is our a Tit. 3.5 regeneration for this Christ promiseth to worke in vs by his holy spirite and so doth indeede and this grace also he merited for vs of his father by his death and passion XV. Where we must obserue that this renewing of nature is a Rom. 7. imperfect in this life but yet so be we renewed that this sinne dwelling in vs raigneth b Rom. 6.4 not nor hath dominion ouer vs but by the grace of Gods spirite is dayly more and more mortified
the Church for Christ himselfe performed the partes of a Minister but as to all the faithfull receiuing the Sacrament at the hands of the Lords Minister Wherefore these wordes doe no lesse concerne those whom they call lay men then they do the Priests or Ministers of the Church VIII Againe if the Supper be to represent Christes sacrifice and oblation which he made vpon his Crosse thē Christ must be offered vp in the Sacramēt of the Supper for how can we otherwise represent in the Supper the oblation of Christ but by offering vp Christ vnder the kindes of bread and wine But this consequence is false and so is the reason thereof For that oblation which Christ made on the Crosse both may must be otherwise represented that is by the a 1. Cor. 11.24 breaking of the bread and the powring out of the wine IX Againe if the pascall lambe was to be sacrificed then Christ also in the Eucharist must be sacrificed for that the paschal lambe was a type of the Lordes Supper here I answere againe the consequence is false and the reason therof for of that antecedent this will follow that Christ also must be sacrificed for that the lambe was a type of a 1. Cor. 5.7 Christ not in the Eucharist but on the Crosse where as Iohn saith that was finished b Ioh. 19.36 which the lambe prefigured X. Againe they bring a place of Malach. chap. 1. v. 11. from the rising of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same my name is great among the Gentils and in euery place incense shal be offred vnto my name and a pure offring But I answer that where they inferre that the body of Christ is offred vp in the Supper because it is a cleane or pure offring the argumēt is false because it will not follow from the generall to the speciall affirmatiuely And it is very manifest to any man of vnderstanding that Malachie here speaketh as the a See Ioel. 2.28 Act. 2.17 Prophets of the spirituall worship of the new Testament vnder the shadowes of the ceremoniall worship vsed in the old But it is straunge that these men dare be bold to bring argumēts for the defence of their Masse in sacrifice out of the Epistle to the Hebrues for that the principall doctrine of that Epistle doth plainly euert all this Popish inuētion of the Masse out of the 5. chap. v. 1. they haue this saying a Heb 5.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euerie Priest is ordained that he may offer sacrifices for sinnes Therefore there are also in the new Testament Priests properly so called which offer vp sacrifices for sins For that the Apostle vseth a verbe of the present tense I answer it is very manifest in all the Apostles doctrine and speach in that place that he speaketh of the Priestes of the old Testament and of the sacrifices which were types of Christes sacrifice the only sacrifice expiatorie for sinne And so the Apostle speaking of Leuitical Priests in all the Epistle vseth verbes of the present tense as chap. 7.9.11 The reason of that phrase is to set the matter whereof he speaketh more manifestly before the eyes of men XII Next they borow out of the 7. chap. the type of Melchi-zedek they reason thus If Christ did not sacrifice himselfe in the Supper in an vnbloudy sacrifice vnder the kindes of bread and wine then was he neuer made Priest after the order of Melchi-zedek But he was made c. as the Apostle witnesseth in that chap. The reason of the consequence is because Melchi-zedek offred vp vnto God bread and wine I answer the consequēce is false for Christ is called a Priest after the order of Melchi-zedek principally for this cause as the Apostle sheweth because he is a priest for a Heb. 7.3 euer as Melchi-zedek there is noted and described without father without mother without kinred Againe the reason of their consequēce is false for that Melchi-zedek did not offer bread and wine vnto God but brought forth b Gen. 14.18 bread and wine for the refection of Abraham and his seruants and that this is there signified we may well vnderstand both by the Hebrue word Hotzi and by the circumstance of that action in that place XIII Lastly they haue this sentence out of the 9. chap. It is necessarie that the a Heb. 9.23 * Exemplaria similitudes of heauenly things should be purified with such things but the heauenly things themselues are purified with better * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hostes as they speake sacrifices then these Ergo with oblations of Masses because he speaketh in the plurall number hostes Therfore he speaketh not of the bloudie sacrifice of Christ which was but one But I answer that the Apostle there still keepeth his plurall number Enallage n. chaunge of number taking one number for another because he continueth in the comparison of the legall sacrifices And of these chaunges we haue many examples as Ruth 1. v. 10. and chapter 2. v. 20. And that the Apostle there speaketh of that one sacrifice of Christ may appeare by the scope of that whole chap. for that nothing else is there intended but to compare the Priesthood of Christ with the Leuiticall Priesthood and to shew how far that excelleth this XIIII And albeit we vtterly deny that the holy Supper of the Lord which the Papistes haue transformed into the monster of the Masse to be a sacrifice expiatorie for sin yet we do willingly confesse and professe it to be the sacrifice * Sacrifice of prayse thankes-geuing Eucharisticall of the new Testament for that it was instituted by the Lord for this ende by this solemne rite to a 1. Cor. 11.26 shew set forth his death that we might magnifie him as our onely redeemer to the glorious prayse of his name CHAP. XXVIII Of the Ciuill Magistrate I. APHORISME BBcause some think the ciuill Magistrat is to be banished out of the Church of God others giue him too much power it is verie needefull also that we know by gods word whether this order be allowed of God and how far the ciuill Magistrats power reacheth II. Both which points the better to know we must speake of three things in order first of the Magistrat next of the lawes lastly of the people III. Of the Magistrat we must consider also three things whether his place calling be approued of God what his office is what authoritie he hath IIII. It is manifest by the Scriptures that God approueth Magistracie or ciuill gouernement as Psal 82. v. 1. God standeth in the assemblie of Gods he iudgeth amōg Gods v. 6. I sayd ye are Gods and ye are all the children of the most high Deut. 1. v. 17. Moses saith the iudgement is Gods So 2. Chron. 19. v. 6. Iehosaphat saith to the Iudges ye execute not the iudgements of mā but of the Lord.