VIII.
It remains in the Liberty of Ministers, in distributing the Bread and Wine, to use the accustomed words, the thing being indifferent, provided words are used that tend to Edi∣fication.
When Jesus Christ gave to his Apostles the Sacra∣ment of Bread, he said, this is my Body, and in giving them the Symbol of Wine, this is my Blood, or, this Cup is the New Testament in my Blood. As for the Apostles we do not find they said any thing. In the time of Justin Martyr, * 1.1 the Giver, nor the Communi∣cant said nothing, but the Deacons gave to the faithful Bread and Wine, which had been Consecrated; And 'tis gathered from Clements of Alexandria, * 1.2 that 'twas so practis'd at the end of the Second Century, sometime af∣ter, it was said to Communicants in giving them the Sacrament, The Body of Christ, The Blood of Christ. In the Sixth Century and after, it was said, particularly in the West, The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve you to Everlasting Life; The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Redeem you to Eternal Life: * 1.3 The Greeks say at this time, You participate and communicate of the Holy Body and Pretious Blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the Remission of your sins, and to Life Everlasting; Amongst us is commonly said, This is the Body of Jesus