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A Summary, According to the Holy Scriptures,
of the Sacrament of = the=20 Lord's Supper
1550

Extracted from: Selected Writings of John Knox: Public Epistles,=20 Treatises, and Expositions to the Year 1559=20

Editor's Note

This brief declaration, although a separate composition, was appended = to=20 Knox's Vindication of the Doctrine that the Sacrice of the Mass is = Idolatry=20 (1550).=20

A Summary, According to the Holy Scriptures,
of the Sacrament of = the=20 Lord's Supper

Here is briefly declared in a summary, according to the holy = scriptures, what=20 opinion we Christians have of the Lord's Supper, called the sacrament of = the=20 body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.=20

First, we confess that it is a holy action, ordained of God, in the = which the=20 Lord Jesus, by earthly and visible things set before us, lifts us up = unto=20 heavenly and invisible things. And that when he had prepared his = spiritual=20 banquet, he witnessed that he himself was the lively bread wherewith our = souls=20 are fed unto everlasting life.=20

And therefore, in setting forth bread and wine to eat and drink, he = confirms=20 and seals up to us his promise and communion (that is, that we shall be=20 partakers with him in his kingdom); and he represents unto us, and makes = plain=20 to our senses, his heavenly gifts; and also gives unto us himself, to be = received with faith, and not with mouth, nor yet by transfusion of = substance;=20 but so, through the virtue [power] of the Holy Ghost, that we, = being fed=20 with his flesh, and refreshed with his blood, may be renewed both unto = true=20 godliness and to immortality.=20

And also [we confess] that herewith the Lord Jesus gathered us unto = one=20 visible body, so that we are members one of another, and make altogether = one=20 body, whereof Jesus Christ is the only Head; and, finally, that by the = same=20 sacrament, the Lord calls us to remembrance of his death and passion, to = stir up=20 our hearts to praise his most holy name.=20

Furthermore, we acknowledge that this sacrament ought to be come unto = reverently, considering there is exhibited and given a testimony of the=20 wonderful society and knitting together of the Lord Jesus and of the = receivers;=20 and also, that there is included and contained in this sacrament, [a = testimony]=20 that he will preserve his kirk. For herein we are commanded to show the = Lord's=20 death until he come (1 Cor. 11:26).=20

Also we believe that it is a confession, wherein we show what kind of = doctrine we profess; and what congregation we join ourselves unto; and = likewise,=20 that it is a bond of mutual love amongst us. And, finally, we believe = that all=20 the comers unto this holy Supper must bring with them their conversion = unto the=20 Lord, by unfeigned repentance in faith; and in this sacrament receive = the seals=20 and conrmation of their faith; and yet must in nowise think that for = this work's=20 sake their sins are forgiven.=20

And as concerning these words, Hoc est corpus meum, "This is = my body"=20 (1 Cor. 11:24; Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19), on which the = Papists depend=20 so much, saying that we must needs believe that the bread and wine are=20 transubstantiated unto Christ's body and blood: we acknowledge = [declare]=20 that it is no article of our faith which can save us, nor which we are = bound to=20 believe upon pain of eternal damnation. For if we should believe that = his very=20 natural body, both flesh and blood, were naturally in the bread and = wine, that=20 should not save us, seeing many believe that, and yet receive it to = their=20 damnation. For it is not his presence in the bread that can save us, but = his=20 presence in our hearts, through faith in his blood, which has washed out = our=20 sins, and pacified his Father's wrath towards us. And again, if we do = not=20 believe his bodily presence in the bread and wine, that shall not damn = us, but=20 the absence out of our hearts through unbelief.=20

[1]= Now, if=20 they would here object, that though it be truth, that the absence out of = the=20 bread could not damn us, yet are we bound to believe it because of God's = word,=20 saying, "This is my body" (1 Cor. 11:24); which who believes not, as = much as in=20 him lies, makes God a liar; and, therefore of an obstinate mind not to = believe=20 his word, may be our damnation: [2]= To this=20 we answer, that we believe God's word, and confess that it is true, but = not so=20 to be understood as the Papists grossly affirm. For in the sacrament we = receive=20 Jesus Christ spiritually, as did the fathers of the Old Testament, = according to=20 St. Paul's saying (1 Cor. 10:3-4). And if men would well weigh, how that = Christ,=20 ordaining his holy sacrament of his body and blood, spoke these words=20 sacramentally, doubtless they would never so grossly and foolishly = understand=20 them, contrary to all the scriptures, and to the exposition of St. = Augustine,=20 St. Jerome, Fulgentius, Vigilius, Origen, and many other godly writers.=20

Notes=20

1. Marginal note: Objection=20

2. Marginal note: Answer=20

Copyright =A9 1995 by Kevin Reed
Presbyterian Heritage = Publications
P.O.=20 Box 180922
Dallas, Texas 75218=20

This edition has been edited to reflect contemporary spelling, = punctuation,=20 and grammar. Bracketed words are supplied where needed to complete the = sense of=20 a sentence. Bracketed words in italics are inserted following = some=20 antiquated terms or phrases as a convenience to the modern reader. = Therefore,=20 the words in brackets are not a part of the original text.=20

This publication has been provided in electronic form for the = personal=20 convenience of our readers. No part of this publication may be = transmitted or=20 distributed in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical = photocopying,=20 or otherwise) without prior permission of the publisher.=20



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