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.

Doe they of the first sort of vnworthy communicants, that is to say the wicked eate the flesh and drinke the bloud of Christ vnto the iudgement of their owne condemnation 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 truely; and, not refusing, but receiuing it, are made guiltie of Christs bodie?

No, for.

1. To eate vnto themselues Iudgement, or to bring Iudgement vpon themselues is not to eate Christ, who is made vnto vs righ∣teousnesse and life.

2. Because the promise of grace doth promise onely to the faithfull the participation of Christ himselfe, and they are Sacra∣mentall Seales to none but to the faithfull onely: For what part hath the beleeuer with the Infidell? light with darknesse? Nor, must wee say (saith Augustine) that hee eateth Christs bodie that is not in Christs bodie: and therefore their vnbeleefe cannot make void the faith of God and the institution of the supper.

3. Because no man, saith the Apostle can bee partaker of the Lords Table, that is, of the meate set vpon the Lords table, and of the table of Diuels, that is, haue any thing common with Diuels and vncleane spirits.

4. Because the thing signified is receiued with the heart, and not with the mouth: for indeede Christ is not receiued by the instruments of the body, but by faith alonea 1.1, which the wicked do want.

5 Because God giueth not holy things to dogs, seeing the Lord forbiddeth the same to be done. Math. 7.6.

6 Because there are not contrarie effects of the participating and communciating of the bodie and bloud of Christ. And the power of quickening or giuing life cannot be separated from the communion of the bodie of Christ: and the wicked haue not life eternall, but are condemned alreadie, but, he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life, saith our Sauiour Christ. Iohn. 6.51.

7 Because Christs bodie eaten, worketh life, but being despi∣sed, refused, and reiected, it worketh death, and condemnation but this accidentally, not in respect of participation, but of pri∣uation.

8 Because Christ can discharge the office of a Iudge, although the vnbeleeuers eat not his bodie with their mouth; they eat then the Lords bread, but not the bread which is the Lord; hereunto tendeth that excellent saying of Augustine: If thou receiue it carnally, it ceaseth not to be spirituall, but it is not so vnto thee. Againe. A good man receiueth the Sacrament and the matter of it, an euill man the Sacrament onely, and not the thing it selfe. And againe. He that disagreeth from Christ, eateth not Christs bodie, nor drinketh his bloud, though he daily receiue the Sacrament of so great a thing vnto his owne iudgement. Whereas therefore the Fathers,* 1.2 but especi∣ally Augustine, say that the Lords bodie is sometimes receiued euen of the wicked, by the word Bodie they meane the signifying signe, and not the thing signifyed, or matter of the Sacrament. And the bodie of the Lord, that is to say, his symbolicall bodie, is distinguished from the bodie of the Lord, that is to say, from the verie matter of the Sacrament.

9 And lastly, this consequence of our aduersaries is ridiculous; Christs bodie is giuen, or offered, therefore it is receiued. It is not receiued, therefore it is not giuen.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ephe. 3.17
• * 1.2

  Tract. 25. vppon Iohn.