4. Of the Lord’s Supper

Question 83: How art thou in the Lords Supper admonished and warranted that thou art Partaker of that only Sacrifice of Christ offered on the Cross, and of all his Benefits?

Answer: Because Christ hath commanded me and all the Faithful to eat of this Bread broken, and to drink of this Cup, distributed in Remembrance of him, with this Promise⁹⁵² adjoyned, first, that his Body was as certainly broken and offered for me upon the Cross, and his Blood shed for me, as I behold with my Eyes the Bread of the Lord broken unto me, and the Cup communicated unto me: and further, that my Soul is no less assuredly fed to everlasting life with his Body, which was crucified for me, and his Blood which was shed for me, than I receive and taste by the Mouth of my Body, the Bread and Wine, the Signs of the Body and Blood of our Lord, received at the Hand of the Minister.

1. 952. Matthew 26:27–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:16,20; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25; 1 Corinthians 12:13

Question 84: What is it to eat the Body of Christ?

Answer: It is not only to imbrace, by an assured Confidence of Mind, the whole Passion and Death of Christ, and thereby,⁹⁵³ to obtain Forgiveness of Sins, and everlasting Life, but also by the Holy Ghost, who dwelleth both in Christ, and us, so more and more to⁹⁵⁴ be united to his sacred Body, that though he be⁹⁵⁵ in Heaven, and we on Earth, yet nevertheless we are Flesh of his Flesh, and Bone of his⁹⁵⁶ Bones: and as all the Members of the Body are quickned by one Soul: so are we also quickned and⁹⁵⁷ guided by one and the same Spirit.

1. 953. John 6:35,40,47–48,50–51,53–54
2. 954. John 6:56
3. 955. Acts 3:21; Acts 1:9,&c; 1 Corinthians 11:26
4. 956. Ephesians 5:29–30,32; 1 Corinthians 6:15,17,19; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13; John 14:23
5. 957. John 6:56–58; John 15:1–6; Ephesians 4:15–16

Question 85: Where hath Christ promised that he will as certainly give his Body and Blood so to be eaten and drunken, as they eat this Bread broken, and drink this Cup?

Answer: In the Institution of the Supper, the Words whereof are these.⁹⁵⁸ Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Night that he was betrayed, took Bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat, this is my Body which is broken for you: this do in Remembrance of me. Likewise also he took the Cup, when he had supped, and⁹⁵⁹ said, This Cup, is the new Testament in my⁹⁶⁰ Blood; this do as often as ye shall drink it in Remembrance of me: for as often as ye shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye shew the Lords Death till he come. This Promise, is repeated by St. Paul where he saith, The Cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ? the Bread which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of⁹⁶¹ Christ? for we that are many, are one Bread, and one Body, because we are all Partakers of one Bread.

1. 958. 1 Corinthians 11:23,&c; Matthew 26:26,&c; Mark 14:22,&c; Luke 22:19
2. 959. Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:20
3. 960. Exodus 13:9
4. 961. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17

Question 86: Are then the Bread and Wine made the very Body and Blood of Christ?

Answer: No, verily; but as the Water of Baptism is⁹⁶² not turned into the Blood of Christ, but is only a Signe and Pledge of those things that are sealed to us in Baptism; so neither is the Bread of the Lords Supper the very Body⁹⁶³ of Christ, although according to the manner of Sacraments, and⁹⁶⁴ that Form of speaking of them which is usual unto the Holy Ghost, the Bread is called the Body of Christ.

1. 962. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24
2. 963. 1 Corinthians 10:16,&c; 1 Corinthians 11:26,&c
3. 964. Genesis 17:10,&c; Exodus 12:26–27,43,48; Exodus 13:9; Acts 7:8; Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 16:10; Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 6:6–7; Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 10:4

Question 87: Why then doth Christ call Bread his Body, and the Cup his Blood, or the new Testament in his Blood; and St. Paul calleth Bread and Wine the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ?

Answer: Christ not without great Consideration speaketh so, to wit, not only for to teach us that as the Bread and Wine sustain the Life of the Body, so also his crucified Body, and Blood shed, are indeed the Meat and Drink of our Souls, whereby they⁹⁶⁵ are nourished to eternal Life; but much more that by this visible Signe and Pledg, he may assure us that we are as verily Partakers of his Body and Blood, through the working of the⁹⁶⁶ Holy Ghost, as we do perceive by the Mouth of our Body, these holy Signes in Remembrance of him; and further also, that his Sufferings and Obedience is so certainly ours, as though we our selves had suffered Punishments for our Sins, and had satisfied God.

1. 965. John 6:51,55–56
2. 966. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17

Question 88: What Difference is there between the Supper of the Lord, and the Popish Mass?

Answer: The Supper of the Lord testifieth unto us, that we have perfect Forgiveness of all our Sins, for that only Sacrifice of Christ, which himself once⁹⁶⁷ fully wrought on the Cross; then also that we by Faith are grafted into⁹⁶⁸ Christ, who now according to his Human Nature is only in Heaven at the Right Hand of⁹⁶⁹ his Father, and there will be⁹⁷⁰ worshipped of us. But in the Mass it is denied that the quick and the dead have Remission of Sins, for the only Passion of Christ, except Christ also be daily offered for them by their Sacrificers: Further, also it is taught, that Christ is bodily under the Forms of Bread and Wine, and therefore is to be worshipped in them: and so the very Foundation of the Mass is nothing else but an utter denial of that only Sacrifice and Passion of Christ Jesus, and an accursed Idolatry.

1. 967. Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12,26,28; Hebrews 10:10,12,14; John 19:30; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:19–20
2. 968. 1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13
3. 969. Hebrews 1:3,6,8,&c
4. 970. John 4:21–23; John 20:17; Luke 24:5; Acts 7:55–56; Colossians 3:1; Philippians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

Question 89: Who are to come unto the Table of the Lord?

Answer: They only, who are truly sorrowful they have offended God by their Sins, and yet trust that those Sins are pardoned them for Christ’s sake; and what other Infirmities they have, that those are covered by his Passion and Death; who also desire more and more to go forward in Faith and Integrity of life: but Hypocrites, and them which do not truly repent, do eat⁹⁷¹ and drink Damnation to themselves.

1. 971. 1 Corinthians 10:21; 1 Corinthians 11:28–29,&c

Question 90: Are they also to be admitted to the Lords Supper who in Confession and Life declare themselves to be Infidels, profane, and ungodly?

Answer: No; For by that means the Ordinance of God is profaned, and the Wrath of God is⁹⁷² stirred up against the whole Assembly, wherefore the Church by the Commandment of Christ and his Apostles, inspired by the Holy Ghost, using the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, ought to drive them from this Supper till they shall repent and change their Manners.

1. 972. 1 Corinthians 11:20,34; Isaiah 1:11,&c; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 7:21,&c; Psalm 50:16,&c

Question 91: How ought this Ordinance of the Lords Supper to be closed?

Answer: In singing Praises to God vocally and audibly for his great Benefits and Blessings to his Church in the shedding of the most precious Blood of his Son to take away their Sin; which Blessings are pointed out in this Sacrament. Also we find our Lord and his Disciples did close up this Ordinance in singing an Hymn or Psalm; and if Christ did sing, who was going to dy, what cause have we to sing for whom he died, that we might not eternally dy, but live a spiritual and eternal life with Father, Son, and Spirit in unexpressible Glory.⁹⁷³

1. 973. Matthew 26:30

Question 92: You told us but now, that those who in Confession and Life declare themselves to be Infidels, profane and ungodly, should by the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven be driven from this Supper: what are the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Answer: Preaching of the Gospel and Ecclesiastical Discipline, by which Heaven is opened to the Believers, and⁹⁷⁴ is shut against the Unbelievers.

1. 974. Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18

Question 93: How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut by preaching of the Gospel?

Answer: When by the Commandment of Christ it is publickly declared to all and every one of the Faithful, that all their Sins are pardoned them of God for the Merit of Christ, so often as they imbrace by a lively Faith the Promise of the Gospel: but contrarily is denounced to all Infidels and Hypocrites, that so long the Wrath of God doth ly on them, as they⁹⁷⁵ persist in their Wickedness, according to which Testimony of the Gospel God will judge them, as well in this life as in the life to come.

1. 975. John 20:21–23; Matthew 16:19; John 12:48

Question 94: How is the Kingdom of Heaven opened and shut by Ecclesiastical Discipline?

Answer: When according to the Commandments of Christ, they who in Name are Christians, but in their Doctrine and life shew⁹⁷⁶ themselves Aliens from Christ, after they have been some time admonished, will not depart from their Error, Heresies, or Wickedness, are made known unto the Church; and if neither then they obey the Churches Admonition, are by the same Church kept from the Sacrament, and shut out by Authority received from Christ, from the Congregation⁹⁷⁷ or Church, and by God himself out of the Kingdom of Heaven. And again, if they profess and declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search, are again to⁹⁷⁸ be received in Love & Tenderness as Members of Christ and his Church.

1. 976. Romans 12:7–9; 1 Corinthians 12:28
2. 977. Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5:3–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15
3. 978. 2 Corinthians 2:6–7,10–11