2._____ In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor
any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead,
but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon
the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise
unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they
call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone
propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
(
Hebrews
9:25, 26, 28; 1
Corinthians 11:24;Matthew
26:26, 27 )
3._____ The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers
to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them
apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to
take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to
the communicants.
(
1
Corinthians 11:23-26, etc. )
4._____ The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements,
the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving
them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of
this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
(
Matthew
26:26-28;Matthew
15:9;Exodus
20:4, 5 )
5._____ The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the
use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly,
although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names
of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit,
in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine,
as they were before.
(
1
Corinthians 11:27; 1
Corinthians 11:26-28 )
6._____ That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread
and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called
transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is
repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason,
overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause
of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
(
Acts
3:21; Luke
14:6, 39; 1
Corinthians 11:24, 25 )
7._____ Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements
in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet
not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ
crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ
being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith
of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their
outward senses.
(
1
Corinthians 10:16;1
Corinthians 11:23-26 )
8._____ All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy
communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot,
without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these
holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive
unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking
judgment to themselves.
(
2
Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1
Corinthians 11:29; Matthew
7:6 )