eth to the discipline of the Church,
that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused
by those that have knowledge of their offences; and finally being
found guilty, by just judgement, be deposed.
XXVII. _Of Baptism_.
Baptism is not only a sign of profession, and mark of difference,
whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not
christened, but it is also a sign of Regeneration or new birth,
whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly
are grafted into the Church; the promises of forgiveness of sin,
and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are
visibly signed and sealed; faith is confirmed, and grace increased
by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young children is in
any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the
institution of Christ.
XXVIII. _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 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.
XXIX. _Of the Wicked which eat not the Body of Christ in the use
of the Lord's Supper_.
The wicked, and such as be void of a lively faith, although they do
carnally and visibly press with their teeth (as Saint Augustine
saith) the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, yet in no wise
are they partakers of Christ: but rather to their condemnation do
eat and drink the sign or Sacrament of so great a thing.
XXX. _Of both kinds_.
The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people: for
both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and
commandment, ought to be ministere
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