Article XXVIII
OF THE LORD’S SUPPER[1]
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.
[1]Drawn up by the English Reformers
in 1552, but significantly revised in 1562 by adding ‘perverteth
the nature of a Sacrament’, and by omitting the reference to
the “real Presence” (see footnote 2, page 127).
In 1571 ‘perverteth’ was changed to ‘overthroweth’.