they fay no more than what a Turk may say, to justify the greatest Fooleries of the Alcoran.

Q. What is the fecond Abfurdity of Tranfubftantiation?

A. That it denies the Truth of the Teftimony given by the Senses of all Men; namely, That this Bread and Wine after Confecration, remains the fame in Figure and Tafte, and really is not Flesh and Blood, as is pretended by this God-making Prieft; and if the Teftimony of Senfe be not certain, then the Being of a Supreme God cannot be proved by the Things that are made, contrary to Rom. i. 20. Neither the Truth of Chrift's Refurrection, by feeing, hearing and feeling, contrary to Luke xxiv. 39.

Q. What is the third Abfurdity of Tranfubftantiation? A. It is this, that in affirming the Accidents of Bread and Wine to remain, and their Substance to vanish. They affirm, that there is length, breadth, thickness, moisture and sweetness; and yet nothing long, broad, thick, moift or sweet, which is a perfect Contradiction.

Q. What is the fourth Abfurdity of Tranfubftan

tiation?

A. It implies, that the entire living Body of Chrift fat at the Table, and at the fame Time was dead, and in the Disciple's Mouths and Stomachs, in the firft Sacrament; and that in all after Sacraments, it (the Body of Chrift) is wholly in Heaven, and wholly in as many Thoufand Places in the World, as there are Sacraments adminiftred.

The 80th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. WHAT Difference is there between the Lord's Supper, and the Papift's Mafs?

"A. The Lord's Supper is a Teftimony to us, "that we have a full Remiffion of all our Sins, by "the only Sacrifice of Jefus Chrift, which he him

" felf

"felf has once fulfilled upon the Crofs; and that we are incorporated by the Holy Ghost in Chrift, "who (according to his human Nature) is now in "Heaven, at the Right Hand of God his Father, " and there will be worshipped by us. But the Papist "Mafs teacheth, that neither the Living nor the "Dead obtain Remiffion of their Sins only for the "Paffion of Chrift, unless he be again offered up "daily for them, by the Hands of the Priefts. It "teacheth alfo, that Chrift is corporally under the "Species of Bread and Wine, and by Confequence "ought to be adored therein; fo that the Papift "Mafs at the Bottom is nothing lefs than an utter De"nial of that only Sacrifice and Paffion of Jefus "Chrift, and curfed Idolatry."

Q. Is the frequent Ufe of the Lord's Supper necessary? A. All godly Perfons ought to endeavour, that as often as they can conveniently, they make a religious Ufe of the Sacrament.

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Q. How do you prove that?

A. 1, Becaufe that Precept of an undeterminate Time, do this, amidst no other Limitation, but a Want of an Opportunity, or fome juft Impediment. 2dly, Becaufe we have continual need to feed upon Christ, and the good Things purchased by him.

3dly, Because the folemn publick Profeffion of Faith, according to God's Ordinance, is a Duty which we ought moft readily upon every juft Occafion to perform.

4thly, Because our Infirmity requireth a frequent renewing of our Covenant, in order to excite our Hearts and Conduct.

Q. Is a Controverfie with one, either Private or Publick, or Enmity, a just Caufe of abstaining from the Sacrament?

A. ft, There can be no just Cause, why any fhould of his own accord, keep away from this Sacrament, befides the Confcience of his own Unwor

thinefs, arifing from his continuing in Sin; for that Unworthiness alone which is culpable, and comes from an evil Confcience, excludeth from the Communion.

2dly, Litigious Controverfies and Law Suits, do no more hinder the Ufe of the Lord's Supper, than they hinder Prayer, for Charity toward our Neighbour is required in both.

3dly, If therefore any Man be in Law, or Strife, not because he hath done Injury to any, or because he will not fatisfy for Injury done, or is far from Peace or Reconciliation, but through the Wickedness of others; this cannot be a just Impediment of Communion, for the Fault of one cannot deprive another of the Benefit of Chrift, and the Privileges of Chriftians.

4thly, If any, therefore, be overtaken with Anger, or Defire of Revenge, upon Occafion of fome Strife, he ought not for that Cause to abftain from the Communion, but rather to lay it down speedily, endeavouring to be reconciled to his Brother, Matt. v. 24. That he may communicate, otherwife he fhall (by a double Sin) augment his Fault; and he fhall feem to make more Account of his inordinate Affection, than of holy Communion with Chrift.

Q. But is it not better to abftain ourselves from the Sacrament, than to use it unworthily?

A. We may not abftain ourselves from this Duty, yet we are not to use it unworthily, but to use it as a Chriftian ought to do, even as we ought to pray to God, not wrong, but right, and with all due Reverence. Those who had refused to come to the Marriage, were as well guilty, as thofe who came there without a wedding Garment, and both are punished. Q. May we abftain ourselves from it because we will not have Communion with the Ungodly?

A. If that fhould be a Reafon of our Abftinence, then we ought to abftain ourselves from the Congre gation, and alfo from the Word preached, and from performing

performing of other Duties of Worship, because there is a Mixture of godly and ungodly People together; we need not to enquire who they are who receive the Sacrament with us, only it is enough if we receive it worthily, in a Christian Church; and as we are not to partake of their Sins, we are not bound to answer for the Sins of others; but we muft examine our felves, 1 Cor. xi. 28. And if we fhould find by Error, or Infirmity of a Church, that some wicked Men are tollerated, we muft not presently feparate, 3 John v. 9, 10. But Admonition and Long-Suffering is to be exercifed in this Cafe, not only toward a private Brother offending, Gal. vi. 1. but more towards a whole Society of Brethren, or a Church; and prudently to use all fuch Means (as much as in us lies) by which all Wickednefs and Scandals may be removed.

The 81st Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. How are to be permitted to approach the Table of the Lord?

"A. They only who are truly forrowful that they "have offended God by their Sins, but have never"theless a Confidence that thofe Sins are forgiven "them for the Love of Chrift, and what other In"firmities they have, that thofe are converted by the "Merit of his Death and Paffion; defiring more " and more to go forward in Faith and Integrity of "Life; but the Hypocrites, and those who are not "fincerely converted unto God, eat and drink their own Damnation."

Q. What Kind of Preparation is required to the worthy receiving the Lord's Supper?

4. That all fuch who defire to partake thereof, examine themfelves, 1 Cor. xi. 28. Let a Man examine

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bimfelf

himself, and fo let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup. And 2 Cor. xiii. 5.

Q. What are we to examine ourselves about?

A. We are to examine ourselves whether we are heartily difpleafed with ourfelves on account of our Sins; whether we have a prevailing Abhorrence against all Sin and Wickedness; and whether we find that we truly repent, and are truly forrowful by Reafon of our offending fo good, fo kind and loving a God; for godly Sorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation, not to be repented of; but the Sorrow of this World worketh Death, 2 Cor. vii. 10. As alfo, to examine our felves, whether we are in the Faith, and to prove ourfelves, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. For without Faith it is impoffible to pleafe God, Heb. xi. 6. Whether Chrift dwells in our Hearts by Faith, being rooted and grounded in Love, in order to enjoy fpiritual Communion with Christ, Eph. iii. 17.

Q Doth that Faith confift herein, that you must believe that all your Sins are forgiven for the Love of Jefus Chrift?

A. Although the very Act of Faith doth not confift in fo high a Degree, yet we ought to look for fuch a Power of Faith, as to be able to fay with St. Paul, 2 Tim. i. 12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that Day.

Q. What is then required of a faving Faith?

A. ft,We must believe that all our Sins can and will be forgiven by Chrift, when we seek for it with the deepest Repentance, Supplication and Prayer, Acts x. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness, that through his Name whofoever believeth in him fhall receive Remiffion of Sins. And David, Pf. li. 1, 2. Have Mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving Kindness; blot out my Tranfgreffions; wash me thoroughly from mine Iniquity, and cleanfe me from my Sins.

2dly, We must have a fincere Defire of Union and Communion