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Chap. XXIX. II. In this facrament, Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real facrifice made at all, for remiffion of fins of the quick or dead b; but only a commemoration of that one offering up of himself, by himself, upon the crofs, once for all; and a fpiritual oblation of all poffible praise unto God for the fame; fo that the popish facrifice of the mass, as they call it, is moft abominably injurious to Chrift's one only facrifice, the alone propitiation for all the fins of the elect d.

III. The Lord Jefus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to declare his word of inftitution to the people, to pray, and blefs the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to fet them apart from a common to a holy use; and to take, and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating

are all partakers of that one bread. v. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one fpi

rit.

II. b Heb. ix. 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without thedding of blood is no remiffion. v. 25. Nor yet that he fhould offer himfelf often, as the high priest entreth into the holy place every year with blood of others: v. 26. (For then must he often hath fuffered fince the foundation of the world) but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away fin by the facrifice of himself, v. 28. So Chrift was

once offered to bear the fins of many; and unto those that look for him, fhall he appear the fecond time, without fin, unto falvation.

• 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25, 26. (See them

in letter 4.) Mat. xxvi. 26. And as they were eating, Jefus took bread, and bleffed it, and brake it, and gave it to the difciples, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body. v. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, faying, Drink ye all of it.

d Heb. vii. 23. And they truly were many priefts, because they were not fuffered to continue by reafon of death: v. 24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. v. 27. Who needeth not daily, as thote high priests, to offer up facrifice, first for his own fins, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Heb. x. 11. And every priest standeth daily miniftring, and offering oftentimes the fame facrifices, which can never take away fins: v. 12. But this man, after he had offered one facrifice for fins for ever, fat down on the right hand of God. v. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are fanctified. v. 18. Now where remiffion of these is, there is

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municating alfo themselves) to give both to the communicants e; but to none who are not then present in the congregation f.

IV. Private maffes, or receiving this facrament by a priest or any other alone g, as likewife the denial of the cup to the people b, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and the referving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this facrament, and to the inftitution of Chrifti.

V. The outward elements in this facrament, duly fet apart to the ufes ordained by Chrift, have fuch relation to him crucified, as that truly, yet facramentally only, they are fometimes called by the name of the things they reprefent, to wit, the body and blood of Chriftk; albeit, in fubftance and na

no more offering for fin.

III. Mat. xxvi. 26, 27. (See in letter c.) v. 28. For this is my blood of the new teftament, which is thed for many for the remiffion of fins. And Mark xiv. 22. And as they did eat, Jefus took bread, and bleffed, and brake it, and gave to them, and faid, Take, eat; this is my body. v. 23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; and they all drank of it. v. 24. And he faid unto them, This my blood of the new teftament, which is fhed for many. And Luke xxii. 19. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, faying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. v. 20. Likewife alfo the cup after fupper, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood, which is shed for you. With 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26. (See all in letter a.)

is

f Acts xx. 7. And upon the first day of the week, when the difciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to de

ture,

part on the morrow, and continued his speech until mid-night. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's fupper.

IV. g 1 Cor. x. 6. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we fhould not luft after evil things, as they alfo lufted.

b Mark xiv. 23. (See in letter c.) I Cor. xi. 25, 26. (See letter a.) v. 27. Wherefore, whofoever fhall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. v. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body.

iMat. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

V. k Mat. xxvi. 26. And as they were eating, Jefus took bread, and bleffed it, and brake it, and gave it to the difciples and faid, Take, cat;

Chap. XXIX. ture, they ftill remain truly and only bread, and wine, as they were before /.

VI. That doctrine which maintains a change of the fubftance of bread and wine, into the fubftance of Christ's body and blood (commonly called tranfubftantiation) by confecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to scrip ture alone, but even to common sense and reafon; overthroweth the nature of the facrament, and hath been and is the cause of manifold fuperftitions, yea, of grofs idolatries m.

VII. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this facrament n, do then alfo inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Chrift crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Chrift being then, not corporally or carnally, in, it or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but fpiritually, prefent to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward fenfes o. VIII. Altho

this is my body. v. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, faying, Drink ye all of it: v. 28. For this is my blood of the new teflament, which is fhed for many for the remiffion of fins.

11 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do fhew the Lord's death till he come. v. 27. Wherefore, whofoever fhall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, fhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. v. 28. But let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Mat. xxvi. 29. But I fay unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

VI. m Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of reftitution of all things, which God

hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets, fince the world be-
gan. With 1 Cor. xi. 24. And when
he had given thanks, he brake it,
and faid, Take, eat; this is my bo-
dy, which is broken for you; this
do in remembrance of me. v. 25. -
After the fame manner alfo he took
the cup, when he had fupped, fay-
ing, This cup is the new teftament
in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye
drink it, in remembrance of me. v.
26. (See letter 1.) Luke xxiv. 6. He
is not here, but is rifen: remember
how he fpake unto you when he was
yet in Galilee. v. 39. Behold my
hands and my feet, that it is I
felf: handle me, and fee, for a spi-
rit hath not flesh and bones, as you
fee me have.

my

VII. 1 Cor. xi. 28. (See in letterl.)

• 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blef fing which we blefs, is it not the

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159 VIII. Altho' ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this facrament, yet they receive not the thing fignified thereby; but, by their unworthy coming thereunto, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly perfons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, fo are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot without great fin against Christ, while they remain fuch, partake of thefe holy mysteries p, or be admitted thereunto q.

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CHAP. XXX. Of Church Cenfures.

HE Lord Jefus, as king and head of his church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of churchofficers, diftinct from the civil magiftrate a.

communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift?

VIII. p 1 Cor. xi. 27, 28. (See in letter 1.) v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteoufnefs with unrighteoutnefs? and what communion hath light with darknefs? v. 15. And what concord hath Chrift with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? v. 16. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they fhall be my people.

q 1 Cor. v. 6. Your glorying is not good: Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump

II To

as ye are unleavened. For even Chrift our paffover is facrificed for us. v. 13. But them that are without, God judgeth, Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked perfon. 2 Theff. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that waiketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. v. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be afhamed. v. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you.

I. a Ifa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a fon is given, and the government fhall be upon his fhoulder: and his name fhall be called, Wonderful, Counfeller, The mighty God, The everlafting Fa

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II. To thefe officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven Chap. XXX, are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit fins; to fhut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and cenfures; and to open it unto penitent finners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by abfolution from cenfures, as occafion fhall require b.

ther, The Prince of peace. v. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablifh it with judgment and with juftice, from henceforth even for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hofts will perform this. 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. I Theff. v. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the church. v. 18 And when they were come to him, he faid unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whofe faith follow, confidering the end of their converfation. v. 17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and fubmit yourselves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. v. 24. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the faints. They of Italy falute you. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath fet fome in the

III. Church

church, firft apoftles, fecondarily prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Mat. xxviii. 18. And Jefus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft: v. 20. Teaching them to obferve all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

II. b Mat. xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatfoever thou fhalt bind on earth, fhall be bound fhalt loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven: and whatfoever thou in heaven. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he fhall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect thee as an heathen man and a pubto hear the church, let him be unto lican. v. 18. Verily, I fay unto you, Whatfoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven: and whatfoever ye fhall loofe on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. John xx. 21. Then faid Jefus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath fent me, even fo fend I you. v. breathed on them, and faith unto 22. And when he had faid this, he them, Receive ye the holy Ghost. v. 23. Whose soever fins ye remit,

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