XXI - Of the Sacraments

AS the Fathers under the Law, Gen. 17.10. Exod. 12.32. Gen. 17.4. Num. 9.13. besides the verity of the Sacrifices had two chief Sacraments; to wit, Circumcision and the Passeover, the despisers and contemners whereof were not reputed for Gods people: so we acknowledge and confesse, That we now in time of the Gospel, have two chief Sacraments onely, instituted by the Lord Jesus, and commanded to be used by all those that will be reputed to be Members of his Body; to wit, Mat. 28.19. Mar. 16.17. Mat. 26.26. Mar. 14.22. Luke 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.24. & 10.16. Baptisme; and, The Supper, or Table of the Lord Jesus, called, The Communion of his Body and Blood. And these Sacraments (as well of the Old as of the New Testament) were instituted of God, not onely to make a visible difference betwixt his people, and those that were without his league; but also to exercise the Faith of his children, and by participation of the same Sacraments, to seale in their hearts the assurance of his promise, and of that most blessed Conjunction, Union, and Societie, which the Elect have with their Head, Christ Jesus. And thus we utterly condemne the vanity of those, that affirme Sacraments to be nothing else but naked and bare signes: Rom. 6.3, 4, 5. Gal. 3.27. No, we assuredly beleeve, That by Baptisme we are ingrafted into Jesus Christ, to be made partakers of his Justice, by the which our sinnes are covered and remitted. And also, That in the Supper rightly used, Christ Jesus is so joyned with us, that he becometh the very nourishment and food of our soules. Not that we imagine any Transubstantiation of Bread into Christs naturall Body; and of Wine into his naturall Blood (as the Papists have perniciously taught, and damnably beleeved) but this Union and Communion which we have with the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus in the right use of the Sacraments, is wrought by operation of the holy Ghost, who by true Faith carrieth us above all things that are visible, Mar. 16.19. Luke 24.51. Act. 1.11. Act. 3.21. 1 Cor. 10, &c. carnall, and earthly, and maketh us to feed upon the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, which was once broken and shed for us, which now is in the heaven, and appeareth in the presence of his Father for us. And yet notwithstanding the far distance of place which is betwixt his Body now glorified in the heaven, and us now mortall in this earth: Yet we most assuredly beleeve, That the Bread that we break is the Communion of Christs Body; and, The Cup which we blesse, is The Communion of his Blood. So that we confesse and undoubtedly beleeve, That the faithfull in the right use of the Lords Table, Ephes. 5.30. Matth. 27.50. Mar. 15.31. Luke 23.46. John 14.30. & 6.51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. so do eat the Body and drink the Blood of the Lord Jesus, That he remaineth in them, and they in him: Yea, That they are so made flesh of his flesh, and bones of his bones, That as the eternall God-head hath given to the flesh of Christ Jesus (which of the owne condition and nature was mortall, and corruptible) life and immortalitie, so doth Christ Jesus Flesh and Blood eaten and drunken by us, give to us the same prerogatives; which albeit we confesse, are neither given unto us at that onely time, neither yet by the proper power and vertue of the Sacraments onely; yet we affirme, That the faithfull in the right use of the Lords Table hath such conjunction with Christ Jesus, as the naturall man cannot comprehend: yea, and further we affirme, That albeit the faithfull oppressed by negligence, and manly infirmity, doth not profit so much as they would at the very instant action of the Supper, yet shall it after bring forth fruit; as lively seed sowne in good ground; for the holy Spirit which can never be divided from the right institution of the Lord Jesus, wil not frustrate the faithfull, of the fruit of that mysticall action; but all this we say cometh by true Faith, which apprehendeth Christ Jesus, who onely maketh his Sacraments effectuall unto us, and therefore whosoever slandereth us, as though we affirmed or beleeved Sacraments to be onely naked and bare signes, do injurie unto us, and speak against a manifest truth. But this liberally and frankly we must confesse, That we make a distinction betwixt Christ Jesus in his eternall substance, and betwixt the elements in the Sacramentall signes. 1 Cor. 11.28, 29. So that we will neither worship the signes, in place of that which is signified by them, neither yet do we despise and interpret them, as unprofitable and vain, but do use them with all reverence, examining our selves diligently before that so we do, because we are assured by the mouth of the Apostle, that such as eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup unworthily, are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus.