III. The Lord Jefus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his minifters to declare his word of inftitution to the people, to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to let them apart from a common to an holy use; and to take and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating alfo themselves) to give both to the communicants; 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; as likewife the denial of the cup to the people; worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and the referving them for any pretended religious ufe; are all contrary to the nature of this facrament, and to the inftitution of Chrift III. Mat. xxvi. 26, 27. [See in letter V. 28. For this is my blood of the new teftament,which is fhed 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 is 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 fhed for you, V. The With 1 Cor. xi. 23,-26. [See all in letter"] 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 depart on the morrow, and continued his fpeech untií midnight. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together, therefore, into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's fupper. IV. 1 Cor. x. 6. Now thefe things were our examples, to the intent we should not luft after evil things, as they alfo lufted. a h Mark xiv. 23. See in letter 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. [See in letter V.27. Wherefore, whofoever shall 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 folet him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. V.29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himfelf, not difcerning the Lord's body. i Mat. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doc trines the commandments of men. V. Mat. Chap. XXIX. 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 Chrift; albeit, in fubftance and nature, they ftill remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before1 VI. That doctrine which maintains a change of the fubftance of bread and wine into the fubftance of Chrift's body. and blood (commonly called Tranfubftantiation) by confecration of a prieft, or by any other way, is repugnant not to fcripture alone, but even to common fenfe and reason; overthroweth the nature of the facrament; and hath been and is the cause of manifold fuperftitions, yea, of gross idolatries. VII. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this facrament, do then alfo inwardly by faith, V. Mat. xxvi. 26. And, as they. were eating, Jefus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, 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: V. 28. For this is my blood of the new teftament, which is thed for many, for the remiffion of fins." 1 I 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 shall 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 himfelf, and fo let him cat 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, really VI. 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 began, With 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, cat; this is my body, 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, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in re membrance of me. V. 26. [See in letter] 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 my felf: handle me, and fee; for a fpirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye fee me have. VII. letter 11. I Cor. xi. 28.. [See in. • I Cor. really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but fpiritually, receive and feed upon Chrift crucified, and all be nefits of his death: the body and blood of Chrift being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, but fpiritually, prefent to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themfelves are to their outward fenfes °. VIII. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the out ward 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 Chrift, while they remain fuch, partake of chele holy myfteries P, or be admitted thereunto. 1Cor.x.16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood of Chrift? the bread which webreak, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift? VIII. P 1 Cor. xi. 27, 28. [See in letter V. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himfelt, not difcerning the Lord's body. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteoufnefs with unrighteouinefs? and what communion hath light with darknets? V. 15. And what concord hath Chrift with: Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? V. 16. And 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 peopie. 1 Cor. v. 6. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a CHAP. little leaven leaveneth the whole CHAP. XXX. Of Church Cenfures. Ttherein appointed a government in the hand of HE Lord Jefus, as king and head of his church, hath church-officers diftinct from the civil magiftrate.. II. To thefe officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power refipectively 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 miniftry of the gofpel, and by abfolution from cenfures, as occafion fhall require 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 thoulder: and his name fhall be called Wonderful, Counfellor, The mighty God,The everlafting Father, The Prince of peace. V. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace there fhall be no end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to eftablish 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, efpecially they who labour in the word and doc trine. 1 Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them which 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 firft day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you at all feafons. Heb. xiii. 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken III. Church 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 yourfelves: for they watch for your fouls, as they that must give ac count; 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. r Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set fome in the church; firft, apostles; fecondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverfities of tongues. Mat. xxviii. 18. And Jefus came, and spake unto them, faying, 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 whatfoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. III. Church cenfures are neceffary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offences; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honour of Chrift, and the holy profeffion of the gofpel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might juftly fall upon the church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the feals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obftinate offenders. IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, fufpenfion from the facrament of the Lord's fupper for a season, and by excommunication from the church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the perfon". foever thou shalt bind on earth, fhall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou fhalt loose on earth, fhall be loofed in heaven. Mat. xviii. 17. And if he fhall. neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man, and a publican. V. 18. Verily I fay unto you, Whatsoever ye fhall bind on earth, fhall be bound in hea ven; and whatsoever ye fhall loose 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. 22. And, when he had faid this, he breathed on them, and faith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghoft: V. 23. Whofe foever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whofe foever fins ye retain, they are retained. 2 Cor. ii. 6. Sufficient to fuch a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. V. 7. So that contrariwife, ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, left perhaps fuch a one fhould be fwallowed up with over much forrow. V. 8. Where- ́ 1 CHAP. fore I beseech you, that ye would confirm your love towards him. III. 1 Cor. v. throughout. 1 Tim. v. 20. T'hem that fin rebuke before all, that others alfo may fear. Mat. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither caft ye your pearls before fwine, left they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 1 Tim. 1. 20. Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Sa tan, that they may learn not to blafpheme. [1 Cor. xi. 27. to the end.] With Jude, ver. 23. And others fave with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments spotted by the flefh. IV. dr Theff. v. 12. And we befeech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. 2 Theff. iii. 6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh diforderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. T. 14. And it any man obey |