Instituted this Sacrament saith This is my Body which is broken for you this do in Remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.24 Q. Do you believe that Jesus Christ when he says This is my Body changed the Bread substantially into his true Body and was pleased that as often as the Pastors should pronounce these words they should Transubstantiate the Bread and Wine into his Body A. No for since Reason and Faith teaches me that there is no change of substance in those signs sight tast touch and smell assure me that it is true bread and wine reason tells me that a human body cannot be inclosed in breads accidents and that accidents cannot subsist without their subject and when it is destroyed that it implies a contradiction that one body can be in heaven and in earth at the same time and not in the middle space that it can have all its parts and dimensions in one small point and be more spiritual than a spirit Briefly faith which teaches me that Jesus Christ hath an human nature like to ours in all things Sin only excepted permits me not to believe that Jesus Christ hath a body invisible impalpable without dimensions without voice or motion faith persuades me that Jesus Christ is in Glory at the Fathers right hand permits me not to believe that his body is on earth subject to be trodden under foot by Infidels taken away by Thieves eaten by mice and suffer now he is in Glory more Reproach than ever he suffer'd during his humiliation here below in a word faith which teaches me that the heaven must receive him untill the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 And that we have the Poor always with us but that we have not him always Matth. 26.11 That he hath left the World that he is gone to his Father John 13.1 and 16.17 and 14.3 hinders me from believing that he is here again on the Earth shut up in a Pix Matth. 24.26 If any shall say Behold he is in the secret Chambers believe them not the Greek word signifies Ciboires i. e. the Boxes wherein the Sacrament is kept Q. But yet he hath said himself of the Bread This is my Body and of the Cup This is my Blood Matth. 26.26 A. Yes but he said likewise that it was Bread He took bread and said this is my Body and he said of the Cup that it was the Fruit of the Vine Matth. 26.29 And St. Paul 1 Cor. 11.26 27 28. says that we break and eat Bread I am then obliged to believe that it is Bread and the Body of Jesus Christ Q. How can one and the same thing be Bread and the Body of Christ which are two Natures so different A. It is Bread in substance but the Body of Jesus Christ in figure and signification according to the nature of Sacraments which take the name of the things signified as likewise the things signified take the names of their figures even as the Rock in the Desert is called Christ the Paschal Lamb a Passover Circumcision the Covenant of God Jesus Christ the Bread which came down from Heaven the Vine the Door the light c. Q. How know you that these words This is my Body ought to be taken Figuratively A. First Since Jesus Christ by these words instituted a Sacrament they must be understood Sacramentally and Jesus Christ instituting this Sacrament instead of the Passover in which a Lamb is called a passage it was reasonable that in the Sacrament of the New Covenant the sign should take the name of the thing signified even as the other did Secondly Jesus Christ himself would have us to understand it figuratively for he commands us to do this in remembrance of him he would not then have us to Eat his Body really and corporally for we are said to remember only things corporal when absent Thirdly Besides our Saviour gives us this Body as broken and delivered for us now he is not really broken in the Sacrament but only in Figure Fourthly The bread is the Body of Jesus Christ as the Cup is the New Testament of his Blood now a Cup cannot be a New Testament but figuratively neither can the Bread be Christs Body any other way Q. What can you answer to these words of our Saviour where he so plainly says That his flesh is meat indeed and his blood drink indeed John 6.55 A. I say First That in this sixth Chapter of St. John Jesus Christ speaks not of the Lords Supper for it was not then instituted Secondly That the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is truly the meat and drink of our Souls but not of our Bodies that his Body is spiritual meat and not material and by these words Jesus Christ teacheth us that as truly as Bread and Drink nourishes our Body his Body crucified for us his Blood shed for our Redemption nourishes comforts and fortifies our Souls for what Nourishment is to the Body that Consolation and instruction is to the Soul Q. But this word indeed seems to exclude all Figure A. Not at all but only all doubt or untruth for doth not Jesus Christ say that he is the true Vine John 15.1 and yet he is so only Figuratively Q. How know ye that Jesus Christ speaks of a Spiritual meat and drink in the sixth of St. John A. Because his disciples murmuring at the the hardness of that saying concerning eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood he tells them what if you shall see the Son of Man ascending up where he was before verse 62. insinuating to them that when they should see him ascend into Heaven they should not have such gross apprehensions as to imagine they could corporally eat him on the earth And that they might understand those words spiritually he adds It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life vers 63. Q. How then can you eat Christ's flesh and drink his blood as he commands us in this Chapter A. Spiritually and by faith which is the mouth of the Soul according to Christ's exhortation in this Chapter vers 35. He that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst And it appears that he speaks not of a corporal eating of the Sacrament of Christ's body in this Chapter since he says vers 54. that Whosoever eateth his flesh and drinketh his blood hath life eternal And on the contrary Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you vers 53. Now it is certain that many of the Elect are dead and could not have this Sacrament And vers 56. he says that He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him Then the Manducation of Jesus Christ and his dwelling in us must be understood spiritually for if it be necessary that we eat Jesus Christ corporally that he may
119. l. 1. r. offers ibid. l. 5. r. many p. 122. l. 11. r. Gratulatory A CATECHISM AGAINST POPERY SECT I. Of the Scripture Quest WHat Religion are you of Answ Of the Reformed Christian Religion Q. Why call you your Religion the Christian Religion A. To distinguish it from the Religion of the Jews Turks and Pagans Q. Why call you it the Reformed Religion A. To distinguish it from the Religion of the Church of Rome Q. Why are you not of the Romish Religion A. Because in and by that Religion none can be Saved Q. Why so A. Because the Roman Church hath perverted the Doctrine of the Gospel and established Idolatry and hath taken Antichrist for her head Q. Vpon what is the true Christian Religion Founded A. Upon the Word of God Q. What mean you by the Word of God A. The Holy Scripture contained in the Old and new Testament written by the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles which St. Paul calls Scripture divinely inspired 2 Tim. 3.16 And St. Peter 2d Epist 1.21 speaking of the Scripture says Prophesies came not by the will of men but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Q. Why call you the Scripture the Bible that is the Book or Writing A. Because it is the Book and Writing which ought to be most highly esteemed by us and wherein we may be instructed of the Will of God for our Salvation Q. How divide you the Scripture A. Into two Parts the Old and New Testament Q. What doth the Old Testament contain A. The five Books of Moses the Prophets and the Psalms Luke 24.44 Q. Why take you not in Tobit Susanna Judith and others which we call Apocripha A. Because the Jews to whom the Oracles of God were committed Rom. 3.2 never acknowledged these Books Jesus Christ nor his Apostles never cited them neither were they read in the Synagogue it is not reasonable then that these Books which were not received as Sacred and Canonical by the Jewish Church which then only was the Church of God should be received as such by the Christian Church Besides in these Books are found many Fables which are not agreeable to the Spirit of God who is Truth and Wisdom Q. What doth the New Testament contain A. The four Evangelists the Acts the Epistles of St. Paul of James of Peter of John of Jude the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Revelations Q. Why hath it pleased God that his Word should be put in Writing A. That men might not alter or change it and make their own imagination and inventions pass for Divine Inspirations and the Word of God Q. But why do you found your Religion on the Word of God A. That we may have solid and firm Comfort in Life and Death Rom. 15.4 Q. Wherein consists your Comfort in Life and Death A. In that Jesus Christ hath redeemed us from the power of the Devil so that living and dying we are his SECT II. How the Scripture may be known to be Divine Q. HOw know you the Scripture to be the word of God A. Three ways 1. By the Testimony of Believers under the Old and New Testament 2. By the Scripture it self for as the Sun makes it self to be seen by its own Light and the Fire makes it self to be felt by its Heat so the Scripture makes it self known to be Divine by the Majesty of its Stile and fullfilling of its Prophesies the excellency of its Doctrine and its efficacie to persuade and comfort Consciences as David Psalm 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple 3. By the Testimony of the Spirit of God such as Jesus Christ gave to the Consciences of the Disciples going to Emaus Did not our heart burn within us said they one to another while he talked with us by the way and opened to us the Scripture Luke 24.32 Q. How doth the Sprrit testifie the Scripture to be the Word of God A. Not by extraordinary Revelations as Prophesies were formerly made known to the Prophets which themselves often understood not but by Hearing and Meditating upon the Scripture instructing comforting and sanctifying the Heart he maketh known by these Divine effects to them that read and hearken thereunto with Humility Attention and Reverence that the Doctrine which is contained therein is truly Divine Q. Doth the Testimony of the Church give Authority to the Scripture A. No for seeing it is God that speaketh in the Scriptures its evident he cannot take his Authority from men John 5.34 I receive not testimony from man Q. Is then the Testimony that the Church gives to the Scripture unprofitable A. No for by it men are first brought to inquire after the Scripture and to read it and the Universal consent of the Church obliges them to an advantagious opinion of the Divinity of the Scripture which makes it be read with more Fear and Reverence Q. What is the difference between the testimony of the Church and that of the Scripture it self accompanied with the testimony of the Spirit of God A. The Testimony of the Church being only a Testimony from men can produce only an human Faith or an Opinion but the Testimony of the Scripture it self being the Testimony of God produces a Divine Faith The Testimony of the Church is like that which John Baptist gave to Jesus Christ John 5.33 and that of the Samaritan John 4. for as that woman brought those of Sychar to Jesus Christ so the Church brings us to the Word of God but the Scriptures Testimony of it self is like that of Christ himself by his Works which testifyed of him that the Father had sent him John 5.36 so that Believers knowing the Divinity of the Scripture by the reading of it may say as these of Sychar to the woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves The Testimony of the Church is only a simple Testimony but that of the Scripture is with Authority and from the Soveraign Judg. SECT III. Of the Authority of the Scripture Q. HAth God established in the Church a Soveraign Judg with full power to decide matters of Faith without Appeal A. None but the Word contained in the Holy Scriptures and it is by this Jesus Christ hath told us that men shall be judged at the last day John 12.48 He that rejecteth me hath one that judgeth him the word that I have spoken the same shall judg him at the last day And St. Paul Rom. 2.16 says That God will judg the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to his Gospel and Believers never acknowledged any other judg of their Controversies about matters of Faith but the Word of God by it the Priests determined about things difficult Deut. 17.9.11 By it Ezechias and Josaphat reformed the Church and re-established the pure service of God 2 Chron. 31. and 17.7.9 By the Scriptures Jesus Christ
dwell in us by the same reason Jesus Christ should eat us and we should enter into his body that we might dwell in him Q. How is it then that Jesus Christ dwelleth in us and we in him A. Jesus Christ dwelleth in us by his Spirit and we receive him by faith Ephes 3 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and John 1.12 As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe in his Name To believe in Jesus Christ then is to receive him and 1 Joh. 3.24 And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Q. If you take only the figure and not the true body of Jesus Christ in the Lord's Supper what advantage have you more than the wicked and prophane who often take the figure as well as you A. Very much for the wicked only eat the exterior part of the Sacrament with their bodily mouth but Believers together with the Sacrament and Sign eat the thing signified by faith which is the mouth of the Soul viz. the body of Jesus Christ which was crucified for us and drink his blood which was shed for the Redemption of our Souls Q. This eating with the mouth of the Soul seems to be an imaginary thing A. Not at all for as the Soul is as real a thing as the Body so the Operations thereof are as certain and real as those of the Body or rather more certain and if the Body is really nourished by Bread and Wine in the Sacrament the soul is not less nourished and strengthned by imbracing by Faith Jesus Christ our Saviour who died for our sins and rose again for our justification Q. Do you not believe that the eating of the Sacrament of Christs Body doth put into the Body a Seed of immortality as Jesus Christ says John 6.54 Whoso cateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day A. This saving effect doth not accompany the corporal eating of the Sacrament but the effectual working of the Holy Ghost which by Faith produceth a new life in the Elect giveth them an assurance and even beginning of a glorious immortality as we are taught by St. Paul Rom. 8.11 If the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you SECT LII Of Communion under both Kinds Quest MAY one lawfully partake of the Sacrament under the sign of Bread only as it is practised in the Church of Rome at this time A. No For Jesus Christ hath said Matth. 26.27 Drink ye all of it Q. But he speaks to his Disciples who were Priests and not to others A. The Apostles did not appear there as Pastors but as the Lords Disciples obliged to obey his Commands and if this Command Drink ye all of it oblige none but Pastours no more doth the other take eat both commands being made to the same persons and consequently then the people must be deprived of the whole Sacrament Q. Have ye no other passage where the people are commanded expresly to partake of the Cup A. St. Paul 1 Cor. 11.28 commandeth all without exception to examine themselves and so Eat of that Bread and Drink of that Cup whoever then are obliged to examine themselves are also obliged to drink of this Cup and since they of the Church of Rome understand the words of Jesus Christ John 6. to be spoken of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper what can they answer to words so express verse 53. Verily verily I say unto you except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you Q. But what need is there of drinking since under the Species of Bread or of Wine Jesus Christ is wh lly contained A. This evasion comes from a false Supposition that Jesus Christ is corporally and wholly contained in each Crum of Bread even as it is usual for one error to produce more whereas we should mark this that since Jesus Christ hath commanded the Cup to be taken as well as Bread he would not have us believe this pretended Concomitance and Real Corporal substantial presence of his Body but would have us believe that the participation of the Cup is as necessary as the the partaking of the Bread Q. Notwithstanding there are examples of Believers in the Scripture who have taken Bread only in this Sacrament Acts 2.46 It is said that the Lords Disciples continued in the breaking of Bread A. The consequence is most absurd that the Disciples broke Bread therefore consequently they did not partake of the Cup as if we should say there they have eaten consequently they have not drunk but were not the Lords Disciples Priests and Pastours They were certainly obliged then to drink the Cup as well as to break the Bread according to the Opinion of these of the Roman Church that it was to Pastors that Jesus Christ gave this command Drink ye all of it THE END