Chap. XXIV. -- Of the Lord's Supper.

Q. 1. What is the Lord's supper?

A. An ^aholy action instituted and [97] appointed by Christ, ^bto set forth his death, ^cand communicate unto us spiritually his body and blood by faith, being ^drepresented by bread and wine, ^eblessed by his word, and prayer, ^fbroken, [98] poured out, and received of believers. ^aMatt. xxvi. 26-28; Luke xxii. 14-20; 1 Cor. xi. 23-25. ^bLuke xxii. 19; 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. ^cMark xiv. 22-24; 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25; John vi.
63. ^d1 Cor. xi. 23, 25. ^e1 Cor. xi. 24; Matt. xxvi. 26. ^fMatt. xxvi. 26; Mark xiv. 22; Luke xxii. 19.

Q. 2. When did Christ appoint this sacraments?

A. On the night wherein he was betrayed to suffer. 1 Cor. xi. 23.

Q. 3. Whence is the right use of it to be learned?

A. From the word, [99] practice, and actions of our Saviour, at its institution.

Q. 4. What were the actions of our Saviour to be imitated by us?

A. First, blessing the elements by prayer; secondly, breaking the bread, and pouring out the wine; thirdly, distributing them to the receivers, sitting in a table-gesture. Matt. xxvi. 26; Mark xiv. 22; Luke xxii. 19,20; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24.

Q. 5. What were the words of Christ?

A. First, of command, -- "Take, eat;" secondly, of promise, -- "This is my body;" thirdly, of institution for perpetual use, -- "This do," &c. 1 Cor. xi. 24-26.

Q. 6. Who are to be [100] [101] receivers of this sacrament?

A. Those only have a true right to the signs who by faith have an holy
interest in Christ, the thing signified.
1 Cor. xi. 27-29; John vi. 63.

Q. 7. Do the elements remain bread and wine still, after the blessing of them?

A. Yes; all the spiritual change is wrought by the faith of the receiver, not the words of the giver: to them that believe, they are the body and blood of Christ. John vi. 63; 1 Cor. x. 4, xi. 29.

[97] Baptism is the sacrament of our new birth, this of our farther growth in Christ.

[98] No part of Christian religion was ever so vilely contaminated and abused by profane wretches, as this pure, holy, plain action and institution of our Saviour: witness the Popish horrid monster of transubstantiation, and their idolatrous mass.

[99] Whatever is more than these, is of our own.

[100] Faith in God's promises, which it doth confirm, -- union with Christ, whereof it is a seal, -- and obedience to the right use of the ordinance itself, -- are required of all receivers.

[101] There is not any one action pertaining to the spiritual nature of this sacrament, not any end put upon it by Christ, -- as, first, the partaking of his body and blood; secondly, setting forth his death for us; thirdly, declaring of our union with him and his, -- but requires faith, grace, and holiness, in the receivers.