XVIII. Of the Lord's Supper.
The Supper of the Lord is not only a
sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to
another; but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death:
insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same,
the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise
the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ.
Transubstantiation (or the change of
the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved
by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth
the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.
The Body of Christ is given, taken, and
eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the
mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is
Faith.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was
not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.