Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

Which is the right order of administring the Supper?

That it may bee administred.

1. In the manner which commeth most neere to the simplicitie of the first institution, and is most farre from superstition & pride (For the Sacraments doe not seeke gold, neither doe they please with gold, being not bought with gold (saith Ambrose) by godly and lawfull ministers of the Church. For whereas some do think that in the old time also it was so administred in families at home, that it should not be needfull for the ministers of the word to be present (euen as in the celebration of the Paschall lambe, wee doe not read that priests were present in euery family) if it were so, it was not agreeable to the institution of Christ. But let the ministers exercise the ministerie honestly and comelily, let them conceiue holy praiers: let them plainely rehearse and ex∣pound the words of institution: let them inuite the people to the mysticall table, & let them stirre vp and admonish them by their owne example, that they may come orderly, that they may take with reuerence that which is giuen, that they stay not onely in signes, but lift vp their hearts.

2. Let them exhort to the same exercise of Christian loue or beneficence: for hereupon the Supper it selfe was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is (Loue) because they did giue to ••••ns of loue, by bestowing libe∣berally to the vse of the poore.

3. Let them adde thereunto the Annuntiation of the Lordes death: for it is not meete that it should be a dumbe action, but that, either the historie of the passion should be read, or some o∣ther thing, or that they sing, or a Sermon be had concerning the Lords death.

4. Let the holy communion be shut vp with a Hymne, or pub∣lique giuing of thanks as the Disciples dida 1.1 together with Christ, that is, let praise & glorie be giuen to God the Father, as Iustine

reporteth to haue beene done. Finally let all things be pronoun∣ced in the vsuall tongue, and language of that place, so that, the communicants may both vnderstand al things & to thē consent in heart. But whether it be taken of them which stand, or of them that sit, it little skilleth: although the Paschall lambe was taken standing: as the Supper by the Disciples when they sat, or rather leaned one vpon another.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Mat. 26, 30 2 Apologet.