The summe of Christian religion: deliuered by Zacharias Vrsinus in his lectures vpon the Catechism autorised by the noble Prince Frederick, throughout his dominions: wherein are debated and resolued the questions of whatsoeuer points of moment, which haue beene or are controuersed in diuinitie. Translated into English by Henrie Parrie, out of the last & best Latin editions, together with some supplie of wa[n]ts out of his discourses of diuinitie, and with correction of sundrie faults & imperfections, which ar [sic] as yet remaining in the best corrected Latine.

3 What the supper differeth from Baptisme.

THE supper differeth from baptisme, 1. Jn ceremonies or rites. 2. In the circumstances of the institution and vse, or in the significations of the ceremonies. Baptisme is a signe of the couenant entered and made betweene God & the faithfull. The supper is a signe of the continuing of that couenant. Or, baptisme is a signe of regeneration and of our entrance into the church. The supper is a signe of their fostering, abiding, and preseruation, who are once entered into the church. The new man must first be borne by the spirite of Christ, as is a natural man by natural con∣ception: and the signe of his renewing or regeneration is baptisme. Afterwards, when he is once renewed and borne again, he must be fostered and nourished by the bodie and bloude of Christ, the signe of which nourishing is the sup∣per. Now it is one and the same Christ who both regenera∣teth, and nourisheth vs to eternal life.

And albeit it is the same participation of christ, namely both the Washing away of sins by the bloud of christ,* 1.1 which is represented in Baptisme: and the Eating and drinking of the body and bloud of Christ which is confirmed vnto vs in the Supper: yet notwithstanding that signification of our new birth is sealed by the dipping of our bodie into the

water of Baptisme: and this of our maintenance and pre∣seruation is d••painted and sealed, by the eating and drink∣ing of bread and wine, in the Supper. And therefore the thing signified of the sacramentes is not diuerse because it is the same, to bee washed with the bloud of christ, and to drinke the bloud of Christ. But the manner of sealing one and the s••me thing, is diuerse. 3 In baptisme is required con∣fession of faith and repentance in the Elder sort; in Jnfants it is sufficient, if they be borne in the church: seing they that are born in the Church are therefore reputed for regenerate, or members of the church, because they haue an inclination to faith & repentance. But in the supper is added a further con∣d ti••n of examining himselfe, and of remembring the Lords death. Doe this in remembraunce of mee. Let a man examine himselfe. Baptisme therefore is due vnto the whole Church: vnto in∣fants, who are the children of faithfull Parents, no lesse than the elder sort enrolling themselues and giuing their names to Christ. The supper is graunted to such onely as are beleeuers and repentaunt. 4. Baptisme must goe before and the supper follow: Whereupon in the auncient church after the Sermno, w••re dimissed such as were excommunicated, likewise those that were possessed or troubled with an euill spirite, and the Catechumens, that is, such as old not as yet vnderstand the g••ounds and principles of r••ligion, or were not as yet baptised. So of old, they who were not yet circumcised did not obserue the sacrifices or ceremonies. Nowe if they who were baptised, before they haue made conf••ssion of their faith and repentaunce▪ are not as yet to bee admitted vnto the supper: much lesse are they, who being baptised liue after the manner of swine and dogges. 5. Baptisme is not to bee rei••erated, but once onely to bee receiued in our life time: The supper is often to be receiued of vs: Because baptisme is a signe of our receiuing into the church, and couenaunt; and the couenaunt once made, is not againe vndoone or made voide to those that repent, but remai∣neth ratified and firme for euer. The supper is a confirma∣tion of our faith concerning the eternall continuance of the couenant: which confirmation is necessary, and there∣fore the supper is often to be iterated. Hereof it is, that the Apostle saith of the supper. As often as ye shall eat this bread,

and drinke this cup, yee shew the Lords death til he come. But of baptisme he saith, That al wee which haue beene baptized into christ, haue beene baptized into his death. And Christ, Hee that shal beleeue, and shal be baptised, shal be saued. And seeing also the supper was therefore to be instituted, that in it shoulde be made a publique remembrance, recounting, & shewing of Christs death, it is often to be celebrated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The same thing is sealed in Bap∣tisme, and the Supper, but the manner of ••e••∣ling is diuers.